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If you have been thinking about getting dental implants, you have probably done a lot of reading on the subject. While there is plenty of information available online regarding things like tooth implant costs and the best materials to choose from, what about the lesser-known details? Here are the answers to 15 questions about tooth implants that you may have been wondering about.

15 Things You Might Not Know About Dental Implants

1. What Do Dental Implants Taste Like?

Just like healthy natural teeth, dental implants do not leave any bad taste in your mouth. They do not taste like anything on their own. However, they will make it easier for you to taste the food you eat. Many people who get dental implants after having severely decayed teeth removed also report that the procedure helped them get the foul taste of rotten teeth out of their mouth.

2. Can You Feel Dental Implants in Your Cheeks?

No. Dental implants do not have nerve receptors, so you cannot experience sensations through them. They are also anchored tightly into your jawbone, so you will not be able to feel them through the skin of your cheeks. They do not feel any different from natural teeth.

3. Can You Go Through a Metal Detector with Implants?

Yes. Dental implant screws and abutments are made from titanium, a type of metal that is not magnetic. This means that they will not set off any alarms when you pass through a metal detector at the airport or during any other type of security check.

4. Is It Hard to Floss with Full-Mouth Dental Implants?

It depends. Most full-mouth dental implants are done using prosthetics that replace the full arch of teeth, meaning that there is no need to floss between them. You can use a water flosser to easily floss the area between the implants and your natural gums. You can use the same method to floss between multiple implants on the same arch, but it will take longer.

5. Can Dental Implants Cause Tinnitus?

No, getting dental implants will not cause tinnitus. However, you may experience temporary tinnitus after getting the implants surgically placed. This is because the strong vibrations of the dental equipment required to perform the surgery may irritate the sensitive bones and tissues inside your ears.

6. Do Implants Change the Shape of Your Face?

In some cases, yes. People who receive full arch implants often see a big difference in their face shape because their facial structure is now supported by the implants and their bite. The same is true for people who have experienced significant bone loss or who have worn dentures for a long time. Getting implants can fill out the collapsed parts of the face and improve the contours of your cheeks and jawline. However, single-tooth implants will usually not significantly affect your face shape.

7. Can I Get Implants If I Have Osteoporosis?

Possibly, depending on your medical history. Some people take prescription medications for osteoporosis that make the implant placement procedure riskier. If you have this disease, contact your dentist and ask them if you would be a good candidate for Implants.

8. Can I Scuba Dive with Dental Implants?

Yes. Dental implants are made from titanium, a lightweight but extremely durable metal. Titanium can easily withstand the pressure changes you might experience during scuba diving.

9. Can Professional Athletes in Contact Sports Get Dental Implants?

Yes, as long as they take precautions to keep their implants safe while they are playing. Much like they may damage natural teeth, repeated mouth injuries can cause a dental implant to fail. Athletes with implants should wear a mouthguard while playing contact sports to keep their implants intact. They should also refrain from playing until the implants are fully healed and integrated into their bone.

10. Are Dental Implants Sensitive to Hot or Cold Food and Drink?

No. Dental implants do not have any nerves inside them, so they cannot transmit sensations of heat, cold, or pain. The materials they are made from are also very resistant to heat and cold, making it difficult for extreme temperatures to travel from the implants to a nerve.

11. Do Dental Implants Have Fake Gums on Them?

Yes, some dental implants do have fake gums attached to them. This is more common for full arch Implants than single implants. Attaching the fake gums to the implants allows for a more natural-looking result.

12. Do You Ever Need a Root Canal If You Have Full Mouth Dental Implants?

No. People who have full-mouth dental Implants have no remaining natural teeth. Since root canals are done to remove an infection in a natural tooth, it is impossible for a person with no teeth left to need one.

13. Can Dental Implants Change the Sound of My Singing Voice?

Possibly, yes. Any dental prosthetic may change the sound of your speaking or singing voice. However, implants are more likely to help you sing more clearly and easily than they are to hinder your performance. Having an implant placed to close a gap in your teeth gives your tongue something to make contact with when pronouncing words, a function that is vital to clear speech.

14. Do Implants Change a Person’s Sense of Smell or Taste?

Depending on how severe your oral health problems were previously, getting dental implants may significantly improve your sense of smell and taste. This is because removing decaying teeth or bulky dentures allows periodontal disease to clear up and removes any barriers between your food and your taste buds.

15. Can Dental Implants Affect Vision?

No, dental implants placed by a qualified and experienced dentist will not affect your vision. While these implants are placed very close to the nerves around your cheekbones, they will not disturb these nerves if they are properly placed.

Get Your Own High-Quality Tooth Implants in Mississauga

There is no need to worry about getting a dental implant to replace a missing tooth; countless Canadians have already done it and are very happy with the outcome. If you are ready to join them, contact Trillium Smile Dentistry today. Our dental clinic is one of Mississauga residents’ top choices for dental implants. Book your appointment now, and let us show you how easy it can be to get beautiful tooth implants that will last a lifetime.

Also Read:

• 15 Myths About Dental Implants You Should Know

Dental implants are a most popular tooth replacement options available today. However, there are still many myths surrounding them that make some people hesitant to consider getting them. If you are looking to replace one or more missing teeth, it is important to separate fact from fiction regarding these incredible prosthetics. To help you do so, we have assembled a list of 15 of the top myths we have heard about dental implants and the procedure required to get them.

Top Myths About Tooth Implants

1. Dental Implants Are Only for Cosmetic Purposes.

It is true that dental implants offer stunning aesthetics, but this is not the only benefit they provide. They are considered the number one tooth replacement option due to the way they anchor directly to your jawbone, just like a natural tooth would. This allows them to stimulate the jawbone during chewing and speaking activities and helps prevent the devastating bone loss that would usually happen after a tooth is lost.

2. Tooth Implants Look Fake.

Dental implants may not be made of organic tooth material, but they look just like real teeth regardless. In many cases, dental implants actually look better than the tooth they are replacing. Gleaming white porcelain implants are especially beautiful and convincing-looking.

3. Tooth Implants Are Only for People Who Have Lost All Their Teeth.

Tooth implants can be used to replace a single tooth or all your teeth – whatever you need. You can even replace a single-tooth implant crown with a multi-tooth implant bridge later on if the need arises. You may need to have additional implants placed to support larger bridges.

4. Dental Implants Are for Elderly People.

People of all ages can get dental implants. All you need is enough dense jawbone to anchor the titanium screws that will support the implants. Elderly people are actually less likely to have enough jawbone to support the implant procedure, but bone grafts can be applied to make them better candidates for the surgery.

5. Dental Implants Are Not As Strong As Natural Teeth.

Dental implants are the only tooth replacement option that fuses into your jawbone through a process called osseointegration. Because of this, they are able to provide very similar strength and function to natural teeth. You should be able to enjoy all of your favourite foods with an implant, even hard or chewy items.

6. Tooth Implants Have a Low Success Rate.

Tooth implant surgery has a very high success rate. Some people are not ideal candidates for tooth implants and would be more likely to have their implants fail, but these people are usually not approved for the process in the first place. Your dentist will tell you if implants are a viable choice for you and suggest things you can do to make yourself a better candidate, such as quitting smoking.

7. Tooth Implants Are Invasive and Painful.

Getting dental implants does require oral surgery, but the process is relatively easy and painless for most people. You will be given anesthesia during the surgery and pain medication afterwards to control your discomfort. Most people return to their usual activities in just 2-3 days.

8. Dental Implants Require Special Care.

Dental implants do not need any special care. If you brush and floss regularly and attend regular dental appointments, your implants should last for decades without any problems. You may eventually need to replace the crown that sits on top of your implant, but you will not need to undergo another tooth implant procedure to do this.

9. Tooth Implants Are Not Affordable.

Tooth implants are among the more expensive options for tooth replacement, but many patients do not realize that they may not have to pay the full cost all at once. Your dentist likely offers some form of financing to help patients who cannot afford to pay for their care immediately. Your dental insurance or HSA may also cover some or all of your tooth implant costs.

10. Tooth Implants Are Not Worth It.

Dental implants restore your smile, self-confidence, and dental function. They make it possible for you to live life the way you did before you lost your teeth. Many patients say that getting implants was one of the best decisions they ever made.

11. Dental Implants Are Still Experimental.

Dental implants have more than 70 years of clinical research behind them and are proven to be extremely safe and effective. Millions of people have received implants and are very happy with the results. Some of them have had their implants for several decades without any problems.

12. Dental Implants Are Not a One-Day Procedure.

While you will not be fully recovered for many months after your surgery, the procedure is often completed in one day. You will feel no pain after a few days. The only exception to this is when you need bone grafts to support the implant screws. The grafting process will need to be completed several months before your surgery can begin, lengthening the process.

13. Tooth Implants Are Not for Older People.

Tooth implants are an excellent tooth replacement for people of all ages. Older people who have suffered some bone loss may need bone grafts to support the implant screws properly, but they can safely undergo implant surgery once they receive those grafts.

14. Implants Are Easy to Spot.

Tooth implants are very discreet. With the screw hidden below your gums and capped by a gleaming high-quality porcelain crown, your implant will look just like any other tooth in your mouth. Most people will never know that an implant is not a real tooth unless they are told this is the case.

15. Tooth Implant Surgery Is Risky.

Like any surgery, tooth implant surgery does involve some level of risk. However, very few people experience complications during or after this procedure. If tooth implant surgery might be especially risky for you, your dentist will warn you that you may not be a good candidate for the procedure.

Visit the Experts for Long-Lasting Dental Implants in Mississauga

It is normal to be apprehensive about making big permanent changes to your body, but getting dental implants could make a drastic positive difference in your life. Our staff at Trillium Smile Dentistry will make sure you have a comfortable experience before, during, and after your dental implant procedure. Contact us today at 905-828-9894 or online to book your first appointment and discuss all of your implant needs and concerns.