Many people are already anxious about dental treatments. Even a simple checkup and cleaning can set people’s hearts racing, and when you consider a more involved dental procedure like a root canal or dental implants, people can become very afraid and choose against them for no reason other than that they’re afraid.
And that’s a shame, because dental implants really are great. They look attractive, function like your natural teeth, and can be essentially permanent if they’re properly cared for.
And what makes all this worse is that most of the fears people have are unjustified. Here are some of the common concerns people have about dental implants, and why you shouldn’t let them stop you.
Fear: Dental Implants Will Hurt
People worry about pain in the dental implant procedure, but there’s really no reason to be concerned. During the dental implant procedure, you’ll be under anesthesia and won’t feel anything. After the procedure, discomfort will typically be controllable with over-the-counter medications. If you are particularly sensitive to pain, we can talk about a prescription to help control discomfort.
Fear: I’ll Have to Get a Lot of Dental Implants
The thought of having an implant placed for each lost tooth can be especially daunting for a person facing the loss of all their teeth, but this just isn’t the case. Most people can get a full replacement of their upper or lower teeth with just four dental implants.
Fear: I’ll Have a Gap in My Smile
Many people look at the possible timetable for dental implants (at least three months) and worry that they will have to live with a gap in their smile for that time. However, many people can get dental implants topped with a dental crown right away, and for the others, Temporary Restoration Options for Dental Implants.
Fear: I Won’t Be Able to Eat Anything while Implants Heal
Although it’s true that we wouldn’t want to disturb your dental implant while it’s healing, that doesn’t mean you’ll have a limited diet for three or six months. For a week or so after implant surgery, you will probably have a restricted diet–soft foods–but once the gum tissue heals, your diet will become much more flexible.
Fear: My Dental Implants Will Fail
The thought that you might put in all that time and money to get dental implants that then fail can definitely be disheartening. But dental implants have a very high success rate–including metal free implants–, especially if you work with a specialist and follow all your postoperative instructions properly.
Still Afraid? Please Talk to Us
If you are still anxious about getting dental implants, it’s best to talk in person to an implant dentist who has helped many people get through the procedure successfully. You can also talk to previous patients who can tell you just how easy the procedure is and how great the benefits are.
To schedule a consultation with an Orange County implant dentist, please call for an appointment at Rice Dentistry in Irvine.
