Can I get a dental implant at 60? If I smoke, can I undergo a dental implant procedure? How long does the treatment last? Is it painful?
When a patient is missing one of their teeth and decides, or considers the option, to resort to a dental implant process, several doubts arise. The decision to resort to the replacement of teeth can be for aesthetic or health reasons, but the answers to all their doubts are the same.
Today we collect a series of questions, the most common ones, and we will provide an answer to try to solve all doubts.
Do I need to replace a natural tooth with a dental implant?
As a general rule, if the tooth is healthy and there are no signs of future problems, the original should always be preserved. The option of placing an implant should always be as a result of the loss of the natural tooth.
Once the gum has healed and after the specialist personnel have studied that they can intervene to install the missing piece, the preliminary protocol can be followed to start the treatment.
What are dental implants used for?
The installation of replacement pieces not only covers aesthetic needs, but also covers other needs such as health. Having a complete set of teeth is more important than you imagine. Therefore, in addition to filling in the empty spaces, dental implants serve to:
- Ensure that the maxillary bones maintain their functionality.
- Enable anchors that allow for other treatments such as orthodontic treatments, which, otherwise, would sometimes be impossible to perform.
- Obtain an anchor in cases where it is necessary for removable dental prostheses, providing stability, comfort, and security.
Is the dental implant procedure painful?
One of the fears that arise when talking about implantology is pain. The treatment undergone by a patient who decides to start with the intervention and placement of new pieces is usually pain-free. In most cases, patients do not experience pain.
This does not mean that there are no circumstances that can cause discomfort or pain. It is not usually the norm, with patients experiencing discomfort being a very small percentage.
Local anesthesia is used during the implantology procedure. During the process, there is no discomfort, except for the initial prick. After the effect wears off, symptoms should not appear.
How long does it take to place a dental implant?
Today, medical science establishes a period of between 3 to 6 months to complete the process. In the best cases, 12 weeks are sufficient for your implantology process to finish. But it can take an additional 12 weeks, depending on the suitability of your gums.
The process of placing an implant is simple:
- Once the surgery is performed and the dental implant is installed, the patient goes home with some instructions.
- Within a period of 5/7 days, they must return to the clinic for a check-up and to place the temporary crown so that the patient can lead a normal life.
- From that day on, the period begins in which the implant attaches to the bone (known as osseointegration). This is when we talk about a period of 3 to 6 months depending on each patient.
- Once the implant has osseointegrated, the permanent crown is placed, leaving the new piece fixed and firm.
What care do I need to take after a dental implant procedure?
Although it may seem that after installing an implant we must take exhaustive care of our oral health, we do not need to change our habits. After the intervention, and once the process is finished with the placement of the definitive piece, the care should be the same as before the implant placement:
- Healthy diet
- Regular check-ups
- Cleaning after each meal
- Use of mouthwashes
- Use of dental floss if necessary
Can I get implants if I smoke?
We have already written about this topic on our blog. If you are a smoker, you should have no doubts. You can place pieces without any problems. What you should have is optimal gingival health.
If you are a smoker, you can read the full article on this topic and resolve all your doubts. Here is the link: Dental Implants and Tobacco.
Can I get a dental implant at 60?
Of course! Dental implants in old age are the best option for replacing lost teeth without presenting any added risk.
The biggest challenge we may encounter may be the lack of bone in which to insert the implant. Nowadays, we have a range of options for placing them, regenerating bone mass.
Do you have any other questions about dental implantology? Do you want to know how much a dental implant costs in A Coruña?
On our website, we have a section on advanced implantology, where you have varied information and we answer frequently asked questions about treatments, with examples of clinical cases.
Don’t forget our podcast San Andrés 90 on Cadena Ser A Coruña, where this month we talk about the different types of implants that exist, about how the fixation process is and the advances in healing techniques to leave the perfect denture.
You can listen to it on:
- Spotify https://spoti.fi/3x3fQgJ
- iVoox: https://bit.ly/3i9cG6Q
If with all that information you still have any doubts or need to ask us more personal and specific questions, such as how much a dental implant treatment would cost in A Coruña, you just have to contact us at:
- Our email: info@antoniolinares.com
- By phone: 881 968 034
- Or by visiting our clinic: San Andrés 90-96, A Coruña.