Family Dental of Fairfax City
Family Dental of Fairfax City

Dental implants are a safe and well established treatment. It is probably true to say that implants, like natural teeth, will last as long as you take care of them.

Regular maintenance appointments will help your implants last longer.

If you don’t take care of your implants, they will develop a coating similar to the one you will get on neglected natural teeth. Without treatment, this can cause gum infection, bleeding, pain and malaise.

Is it Possible to have Dental Implants With Your Natural Teeth?

Yes, it is possible. Patients can replace any number of teeth with implants, from a single tooth to a complete set.

Are Dental Implants Painful?

Placing an implant is often easier than extracting a tooth and is usually done with a simple local anesthetic. You will not feel any pain at that time, but, as after an extraction, you may feel discomfort during a few days after the surgery. Sometimes your dentist can give you a sedative if you are very nervous or if the case is complicated. General anesthetics are rarely used for implants and are usually only used for very complex cases.

How Do You Care for Dental Implants?

Your dental team will instruct you on how to care for your implant. You may be given pain relievers and antibiotics after surgery. Make sure you have them at home and follow the exact directions from your dentist when taking them.

What Happens After the Procedure?

After placing the implant, the bone should grow around it and integrate with it. It usually takes a few months for the integration to be completed.

If you have one, two or three teeth replaced, you may have a temporary prosthesis in the meantime to help with esthetic appearance during the months that the bone is growing. If you already have complete dentures, you can continue using them while your implants are healing. It will be necessary to modify your prosthesis so that it fits properly after surgery, and a “healing cap” will usually be placed in the implant site to protect it.

Why is it so Important to Take Care of your Dental Implants?

If you keep them clean and have the dental team check them regularly, you should have no problems! Smoking can affect the health of the implants. So, if you smoke, you may need to take care of your implants more carefully. Not taking proper care of your implants can results in the loosening, infection and eventually loss of the implant.

Contact Family Dental of Fairfax City

If you have any questions about dental implants or would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Patricia Dary, please don’t hesitate to contact Family Dental of Fairfax City! Our team is experienced in providing dental implants in Fairfax, VA!