Are Dental Implants Safe?

Dental Implants at Dentistry on Main Street in Florida

Dental implants are a popular choice for replacing missing teeth. This procedure involves inserting metal, screwlike posts to serve as tooth roots and attaching artificial teeth that closely resemble natural ones. Dental implants offer a reliable alternative to dentures, especially when natural tooth roots are insufficient to support traditional dentures or bridges. At Dentistry on Main Street, we provide dental implant solutions at our three locations—New Port Richey.

What Are the Risks?

As with any surgical procedure, dental implants come with certain risks. However, these issues are generally rare and easily manageable. Dentistry on Main Street takes all necessary precautions to minimize these risks. Potential complications include:

• Sinus problems: Implants placed in the upper jaw may extend into the sinus cavities.
• Injury or damage: Surrounding structures, such as other teeth or blood vessels, may be affected.
• Nerve damage: This can result in pain, numbness, or tingling in the teeth, gums, lips, or chin.
• Infection: There is a risk of infection at the implant site.

What Are the Advantages?

Dental implants boast a high success rate of 95% and provide several benefits that other tooth replacement options cannot, including:

• Appearance: Implants look and feel like natural teeth.
• Speech: Unlike dentures, implants do not slip, eliminating concerns about slurred speech.
• Comfort: Being permanent and stable, implants do not cause the discomfort associated with dentures.
• Oral health: Implants do not require altering adjacent teeth like bridges do and help prevent bone loss by stimulating bone growth.

Dental Implant Procedure

When considering dental implants, patients typically undergo the following steps:

1. Consultation and Examination: Dr. Paradis conducts a thorough examination and develops a personalized treatment plan.
2. Implant Placement: During the next visit, the implant is placed into the jawbone to act as a tooth root substitute.
3. Healing Period: The implant site is given about 2-3 months to heal and integrate with the bone tissue.
4. Attachment of Abutment: Once healed, a small connector called an abutment is attached to the implant.
5. Impressions and Crown Creation: Impressions are taken to create a custom crown for single tooth replacement or an implant-supported bridge or denture for multiple teeth. These restorations are color-matched to blend seamlessly with your natural teeth.
6. Final Attachment: The custom crown, bridge, or denture is securely attached to the implant(s).

After the procedure, your new teeth are ready for use. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us. We are dedicated to ensuring your implants look and feel like natural teeth, giving you a beautiful and functional smile!