Are tooth implants an option for you?

Having a tooth extracted can be a traumatic event for many people, especially when that tooth that was extracted was plainly visible whenever you opened your mouth. It’s not so much the few days of pain and swelling after an extraction, or even the fact that you have to give up smoking, drinking through a straw and even eating popcorn for a month; it’s the image you have of yourself, of your smile; every time you open your mouth to speak that constant reminder is always there. Having a tooth implant may just be the ticket to helping you get your confidence back.

Sometimes a tooth extraction is unavoidable; whether it’s because of a broken tooth, an infected tooth or some mouth or gum disease that requires the extraction; you can just chalk it up to a life experience, it can literally happen to anyone. What you do not have to live with continually is the image of a large gap in your teeth; this can be remedied simply and permanently with a tooth implant procedure.

Getting a tooth implant is not some new scientific breakthrough where it should be seen as a risky endeavor; prosthetic dental implants have been around for centuries in various forms. In fact, the long term success rate is over 75% and as high as 95% provided you continue on the path of good oral hygiene. Of course, with almost any dental procedure, smoking is seen as a no-no, and smokers are subject to significantly lower long term dentistry implant success rates.

In the past, a tooth implant procedure would require a few months from beginning to end, but in recent years dentistry has improved techniques to obtain satisfactory long term results with tooth implants that are performed immediately following a tooth extraction; literally cutting the few months healing period down considerably. With the ‘newer’ procedures the permanent tooth implant may be placed right away, giving you almost instant satisfaction for tooth replacement.

In the USA there are over 100 companies that specialize in tooth implant procedures, though in many cases a general dentist may be able to work with you on the implants; avoiding having to seek out the council and services of an oral surgeon or maxillofacial surgeon. This is largely dependent on the general dentist’s training and the equipment available at his or her facility.

Of course, as with any major dental procedure you should first consult with a dental professional to figure out the best options available to you for tooth restoration. Tooth implants are not cheap in consideration of pricing for everyday dental procedures; though sometimes dental insurance with specific coverage for dentistry implants will be able to help you offset the cost of tooth implant surgery.

Even considering the often times hefty one-time cost of tooth implant surgery, many find it to be the only solution to help them get their confidence back after the removal of a visible front or side tooth. For those that decide to go with the implant procedure, it’s a matter of having their dignity back, having the ability to smile again without being self-concise; without having to worry about what others may think of them.
Nobody can decide what the right choice is for you in your situation, but if you’re thinking about tooth implant surgery, there is no better time than now to consult with a dental professional and talk about your options.