The idea of having dental implants placed into your gum tissue and jawbone probably sounds painful. You may even be avoiding the procedure altogether for fear of how much it will hurt.
Believe it or not, the entire dental implant process is surprisingly comfortable. Gum disease, tooth decay, and infection all cause more pain than this best replacement teeth option. Our OKC dental implant dentist, Dr. Grace, will ensure you are comfortable and relaxed in her care.
How Do Dental Implants Work?
Dental implants can replace any number of missing teeth. Whether you just lost a single back molar or your entire front row, dental implants can be used to make your smile whole again.
Implants are typically composed of a few different parts. The implant itself is a titanium screw that’s surgically placed into the jawbone, where it fuses over time with the bone to replace the natural tooth root. An abutment attaches to the implant right where the bone meets gum tissue. This abutment connects the implant to the crown, which is the actual visible tooth.
This outpatient surgery usually requires multiple steps:
- Damaged tooth removal and extraction, if needed
- Bone grafting to strengthen the jaw, if needed
- Dental implant placement
- Time for bone growth and healing around implant
- Abutment and artificial tooth placement
Overall, the dental implant process may take a few months to ensure your bone and gum tissue heal properly after each step. Local anesthesia is used during every procedure to eliminate any pain. Most patients feel little to no pain following the implant procedure, and Tylenol helps alleviate any pain, swelling, or bruising that does occur. Also, if you are looking for a dentist who provides sedation dentistry in Oklahoma City, we do this as well! Most patients won’t even recall the actual implant procedure as they “sleep” through this with sedation.
The temporary discomfort that does come from the placement of implants is well worth the immense improved quality of life our patients receive.
The Benefits of Dental Implants
Most patients agree it’s worth the possibility for slight pain to enjoy the incredible benefits that dental implants offer:
- A whole and natural smile- nobody will be able to distinguish implants from your real teeth!
- Improved speech and ease of communicating
- Ability to chew properly and eat all types of food
- Durability to last a lifetime
No other form of tooth replacement offers the benefits available from dental implants. In addition to an easier time talking, chewing, and smiling, implants also offer complete comfort, better self-esteem, and stronger oral health.
Get Your Dental Implants Now
Here at Pragma Dental OKC, Dr. Grace understands that missing teeth are more than a cosmetic concern. They threaten the overall health of your mouth and cause you to feel like a former shell of yourself. This is exactly why Dr. Grace uses state-of-the-art dental implant technology to replace your missing teeth and help you restore your former sense of confidence.
Schedule your free dental implant consultation online or call today to learn more. The only pain you need to worry about won’t occur during your dental implant procedure; it will occur if you ignore your oral care needs and allow your missing teeth to compromise your health and self-confidence.