A Beginner’s Guide to Dental Implants 

At Savannah Dental, we offer many services including dental implant placement and implant restorations. 

Dental implants are replacement tooth roots. They provide a strong foundation for fixed placement of teeth. They are made to match your natural teeth. 

Dental implants are the top teeth replacement option. They can make a significant difference for many patients, including seniors who are looking for a more effective, long-term alternative to dentures. 

Read on for a  Dental Implants 101 overview and decide if dental implants are something you might be interested in pursuing. 

Why dental implants?

Dental implants can be a stable and long-term solution. Some additional pros to getting dental implants: 

• They’re easy to maintain with simple brushing and flossing, much like natural teeth 
• You should be able to eat a greater variety of healthy food when you have your dental implants 
• No need to remove dental implants when eating or sleeping 

Dental implants vs. dentures for seniors

While dentures are a popular option for seniors, they come with some drawbacks: 

• Dentures can be uncomfortable
• Dentures also lack the strong tooth structures required to chew healthy foods and maintain a balanced diet 
• Dentures need to be replaced more frequently, which can add a financial downside
• Dentures can slip while eating and speaking 

While many senior patients worry that they may be too old for dental implant therapy, a full evaluation and consultation is the only way to know for sure whether that’s truly the case. 

At Savannah Dental, we’ve worked with many patients who’ve given up hope of having stable, natural-looking and feeling dental implants. We’re able to find a workable solution in most of these cases. 

What to expect when talking to your dentist about dental implants

An experienced dentist will be able to review your medical history with you and answer any questions you may have. They’ll evaluate patients to make sure they qualify for dental implants based on the condition of their mouth, gums, and bone structure. They’ll assess whether your jaw bone is strong enough to support dental implants.

Make sure you have a dentist who’s not just experienced with general dentistry, but with dental implant procedures. An oral surgeon must have completed training and gained experience working in a hospital before obtaining their license. 

Some great questions to ask include: 

• What is your level of training? 
• How many dental implant operations have you done in the past five years? 
• What is the success rate of the past dental implant procedures you’ve done?
• How long should I expect the operation to take?

What are the cons of dental implants?

There are some risks associated with getting dental implants. Infections are the most commonly occurring risk, and can happen if your oral surgeon does not follow proper cleaning procedures. 

Other reasons include: 

• Failing oral hygiene
• Misalignment of your dental implants 
• Allergic reaction to the materials used in your dental implants 

Swelling, bruising, and minor bleeding are also common symptoms after dental implant surgery. 

Despite these cons, dental implants can keep patients going for another 20 years. They’ll allow you to eat and talk normally, and as time goes on, you’ll even strengthen your jaw bone by functioning more like you used to with natural teeth.

Dental implants as a long-term investment

It’s common for patients to lean towards lower-cost options like dentures and bridges, but these are also shorter-term options. Dentures, for example, last 3-6 years on average. Dental implants typically last around 20 years, but those with metal framework and support from natural teeth can last even longer. 

When you factor in the costs of replacement over the years, dental implants can be more cost-effective in the long term. 

Strong dental implants can also help maintain overall dental health, thereby allowing patients to avoid the associated costs of additional dental issues. 

At Savannah Dental, we enjoy working with patients of every age who are considering dental implants because we see what a contribution dental implants can be to their overall quality of life. 

Learn about how dental implants can specifically benefit you

Make an appointment with Savannah Dental to learn more about how dental implants can improve your quality of life and oral health.