Dental Implant FAQ

You do not need to be missing all of your teeth in order to get dental implants. Dental implants come in all shapes and sizes, depending on your tooth restoration needs. At Pacific Maxillofacial Center we offer a variety of dental implants, including:

In general, health conditions or habits that prevent you from healing appropriately may restrict someone from getting dental implants.

People who smoke or drink alcohol in excess fall under this category. Smoking restricts oxygen brought to your body and thus slows down your body’s ability to heal. It is highly suggested you quit smoking, if not permanently, at least during your dental implant process. The same goes with consuming alcoholic beverages.

If you have gum disease, you may not be eligible for dental implants. If it is in its earliest stages, you can have gum disease treated, and you will be able to get dental implants afterward. If, however, you have advanced gum disease, there is no cure, but only periodontal maintenance and care that can be provided for your gum disease.

If you do not currently have a sufficient amount of bone to support your dental implants, then you are not yet ready for dental implant surgery. You can, however, undergo a bone graft procedure first. After this procedure has been performed and your gums have healed, you can then move forward with the dental implantation process.

Children and teenagers are not yet applicants for having dental implant surgery. This is because their jaw bone is not yet fully developed. Placing a dental implant into a prematurely formed jaw will result in dental implant failure. Therefore, you must be an adult, and have a fully developed jaw in order to receive dental implants. There is no age restriction for adults to receive dental implants.

We believe dental implants have endless benefits. Benefits to receiving dental implants include the following:

Most people are familiar with dentures, as they have been around a long time. Dentures are artificial teeth placed on a gum-like structure and then placed into your mouth. Dentures are removable. Many people are happy with dentures, but they do come with some care and drawbacks. Dentures need to be replaced approximately every five to seven years. Over time they can begin to warp and do not fit as snugly as they originally did. Because dentures are not permanent in your mouth, they can slip, and even fall out. This can cause embarrassment and challenges while eating and talking. Dentures do require special cleansers to be soaked in at night, and adhesives to help them stay in place securely.

Dental implants, on the other hand, are permanent tooth replacements. They look and act just like your natural teeth. Dental implants do not require any special cleansers, tools, or products to be purchased. You simply continue with your regular oral hygiene routine of brushing twice daily, and flossing at least once per day. You should use a soft-bristled toothbrush, so as to avoid scratching your dental implants, or harming your gums. By having dental implants, your jaw bone is being strengthened by constantly being stimulated with your new teeth. Jawbones without teeth deteriorate. That is why people with dentures will eventually suffer from jawbone loss. Taking dentures in and out daily is not enough to maintain a strong and sufficient jawbone.

Some people think they can ignore a missing tooth. The truth is, that is incorrect. Missing teeth cause gaps. These gaps will cause your other teeth to shift, and while this may seem advantageous, it is not. Gaps caused from missing teeth also create a breeding ground for bacteria. It is much easier to develop cavities and tooth decay with this open space that is now available. Probably the most serious result of missing teeth is bone loss. Bone loss occurs very quickly when there are no teeth present to preserve your gum line. In fact, after just one year of having missing teeth, up to 25% of bone loss can occur. This makes it hard to eat, requires extra dental care for the bacteria that has now developed, and also causes your facial features to have a sunken appearance, making you look older than you actually are.

The cost of dental implants varies from patient to patient. It typically depends on the type of restoration you need, the number of teeth missing, and whether or not additional bone grafting procedures are required to place the implants. However, dental implants can be cost-effective in the long run. Other restorations require repairs or replacement much more frequently than dental implants. These costs can add up over time.