At URBN Dental, we are a full-service dental office that offers a wide range of services to help you achieve a healthy and beautiful smile. Our experienced dentists perform dental cleanings and checkups to ensure your teeth remain healthy.
We also offer affordable cosmetic dentistry services, including implants and veneers, to address problems with missing teeth and imperfections for a Houston smile makeover. To help you decide if implants are right for you, review these common dental implant questions and answers.
What Is A Dental Implant?
A dental implant is a small titanium post that is surgically installed into the jawbone in locations where teeth are missing. The implant functions as an artificial root to provide the support needed for an artificial tooth.
An abutment — a small connector post — screws into the implant, and the artificial tooth is secured to the abutment. Once fully installed, a dental implant looks like your natural teeth, and you will not be able to tell the difference.
Dental Implants Or Veneers?
Houston dental implants are complete artificial teeth you can get to replace any missing teeth or to replace a tooth you have to get extracted. Dental veneers are thin porcelain or composite shells that are placed over the front of the teeth to give you a gorgeous smile and cover up imperfections, such as:
- Chipped and cracked teeth
- Stained and discolored teeth
- Gaps in between teeth
- Crooked or misshapened teeth
So, if you have missing teeth, dental implants are better, and if you have imperfections on existing teeth you want to hide, veneers are better.
Dental Implants Or Dental Bridge?
Both implants and dental bridges are options for replacing missing teeth. Dental implants are permanent tooth replacements that can last a lifetime with proper oral hygiene and care. Dental bridges are designed to bridge the gap in the location of missing teeth, but they do not restore the tooth roots.
As a result, people can still experience jawbone loss and gum shrinkage where the natural teeth are missing, even with a dental bridge. Dental bridges also require removing enamel and grinding down the abutment teeth to install crowns connected to the bridge.
So, even if these teeth are perfectly healthy, they still have to be altered to have a dental bridge installed. Additionally, dental bridges will need to be replaced periodically, usually every 10 to 15 years, sometimes sooner.
Are URBN Dental Implants BPA-Free?
Yes, URBN Dental uses Straumann dental implants in Houston, which are BPA-free and made from 85% titanium and 15% zirconium. BPA is a chemical that has been linked to various types of health problems, including:
- Heart disease
- Some cancers
- Obesity
- Thyroid dysfunction
- Diabetes
- Infertility
Are Dental Implants Common?
As dental implants have become more affordable in recent years, they have become quite common for replacing missing teeth. According to the American Dental Association, more than 5 million implants are installed annually by dentists all across the United States.
Are Dental Implants Safe?
Dental implants are generally considered safe, with most people not experiencing any complications or issues. However, it is important to be aware of these risks before getting implants, including:
- Potential complications during surgery, like injury to the sinus cavity, tissues, teeth, nerve damage, or jawbone fractures
- Infections post-surgery
- Tooth sensitivity
- Implant does not set correctly
- Longer healing times for some people
Are Dental Implants Painful?
Having dental implants installed is not painful, as you will be under local anesthesia, and the surrounding area will be numb. However, once the anesthesia wears off, you can experience some minor pain, swelling, and discomfort. There can also still be some bleeding even after the gum tissue has been stitched shut.
It is vital to follow all post-installation directions provided by your dentist. Other things you can do include:
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever, like ibuprofen or acetaminophen
- Apply ice packs to help with swelling
- Use warm salt water rinses to help with any residual bleeding
- Replace gauze over the area and keeping it protected for the first few days
- Avoid chewing and eating on the side where the implant was installed
- Carefully brush and floss around the surgical area
- Use an alcohol-free and antibacterial mouthwash
Can Your Mouth Reject Implants?
In rare cases, some people’s mouths can reject dental implants for different reasons. Dental implant rejection can occur shortly after surgery, within the first six months, or years later after the implant was installed. Some of the more common causes of dental implant rejection are:
- Allergic reactions to titanium and zirconium
- Poor oral hygiene
- Improper post-surgery care
- Not managing gingivitis and periodontitis
- Smoking
- Bruxism
- Developing osteoporosis
- Facial trauma in the area where the implant is installed
How Successful Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants have a success rate of 97% after 10 years and a 75% success rate at 20 years, according to the Journal of Oral Medicine and Oral Surgery. Some of the reasons for failure can include:
- Poor oral hygiene habits
- Unmanaged periodontal disease
- Age
- Smoking
- Osteoporosis
- Peri-implantitis
How Long Do Dental Implants Last?
Dental implants last a lifetime for most people, with proper oral hygiene habits and regular dental cleanings and checkups. For those who experience an implant failure later in life, their implants usually last between 10 and 30 years.
Can I Get Metal-Free Implants?
There are now metal-free implants made from zirconia, a ceramic material. These implants are more expensive than titanium and zirconium. However, if you are allergic to titanium and have missing teeth, zirconia implants are a great option.
Since they are newer, it is currently estimated that zirconia implants will last between 15 and 20 years. However, further research is needed to determine their success rate and long-term durability.
Get Affordable Houston Dental Implants At Urbn Dental Today
It is easy to find affordable implants at URBN Dental. Our dental office in Houston provides a wide range of cosmetic and restorative options to give you the gorgeous smile you deserve. If you have further dental implant questions, or would like to schedule a consultation, contact one of our Greater Houston Area offices today.
Sources:
Boyce, R. (2020). Prosthodontic Principles in Dental Implantology.
