Have you experienced tooth loss? Dental implants are the best tooth replacement option out there. Since they replace the roots of the missing teeth, they offer a wide range of additional benefits that you can’t get with dentures or dental bridges. Dental implants look and act just like missing teeth, but what do they feel like? Can you feel them at all? Here’s what you should know!
How Do Dental Implants Work?
Dental implants are usually made from titanium, and they look like small screws. During your placement procedure, your dentist will place them directly into your jawbone. Over the next couple of months, the implants will fuse to your bone in a process called “osseointegration.” Permanent dental crowns will be placed on the end of each of your new implants. They are customized to be the exact size, shape, and color needed to blend in with the rest of your smile. Ultimately, they should look like your real teeth.
How Do Dental Implant Feel After Surgery?
After dental implants are placed, you are likely to experience some swelling and soreness for a few days, but you won’t be able to feel the implant in your jawbone. The good news is that any discomfort that you feel after the surgery can be controlled using recommended over-the-counter and/or prescribed pain relievers as directed by your dentist. Generally speaking, peak discomfort happens 3 to 5 days before subsiding.
How Do Dental Implants Feel After Osseointegration?
After your dental implants have completely fused to the jawbone, they should feel just like your natural teeth. The bone becomes a stable foundation for the replacement teeth. You might even forget that they are any different from the rest of your teeth. Other tooth replacement options, including dentures, don’t provide the same comfort or stability. Typically, they need to be relined, repaired, or replaced periodically. One of the best benefits of dental implants is that they allow patients to regain up to 90% of their natural bite force. If you have struggled to eat certain foods in the past due to tooth loss, this will no longer be nearly as apparent.
Don’t settle for gaps in your smile. Schedule a consultation with your dentist to find out if dental implants are the solution to give you your smile back!
About the Author
Dr. Ira Newman earned his dental doctorate from the Emory University School of Dentistry. Currently, he is an attending dentist at Northwell Hospital/Manhasset where he is the chief of laser dentistry and co-director of the TMJ/Facial Pain clinic. He is also a proud member of numerous professional organizations, including the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. For more information or to schedule an appointment at his office in New York, visit his website or call (212) 924-6890.
