Missing teeth can severely disrupt your everyday life. You can restore the appearance, function, and health of your smile in the wake of tooth loss with dental implants in Charlotte. These fixed tooth replacements can last for twenty years or longer, giving you highly effective and comprehensive oral health benefits.
But you might worry that these fixtures could affect your ability to receive other dental treatments. Implant dentistry will not stop you from enhancing or healing your smile in other ways, though it can have some effect. Read on to find responses to frequently asked questions regarding the possibility of undergoing other dental procedures after receiving dental implants.
Can I Whiten My Dental Implants?
You might see darkening, dullness, yellowing, or staining on your teeth over time. A dentist can help you brighten your smile and lift stubborn stains with professional teeth whitening treatment. But your dental implants are made with ceramic prosthetic teeth that will not respond to bleaching agents with this treatment like your natural enamel will.
You cannot whiten your implants, but your dentist designs them to resist staining in the first place. If you do want to make your implants appear brighter, you will need to replace the entire prosthetic.
A dentist can, however, whiten the surrounding natural teeth. You can preserve the appearance, including the color, of your implants with good oral hygiene and aftercare.
Can I Get Braces with Dental Implants?
If you want a straighter smile, you might worry that fixed oral appliances like dental implants can impede your ability to align your teeth. Implants feature a titanium post anchor surgically placed into the jaw, which supports the prosthetic teeth.
Since the fixture is securely in place within the jawbone, orthodontic treatment cannot move the implant. Many people will straighten their teeth with braces and other orthodontic solutions before receiving an implant for this reason.
But if you do want to align your smile after implant dentistry, schedule a consultation with your dentist or orthodontist. They can target the teeth surrounding the implant, securing brackets for braces on the neighboring teeth, to align these parts of your smile.
Can My Implants Suffer from Dental Problems?
A dental implant will not be susceptible to decay like your natural teeth might. But you still require preventative dental care to get the most out of this dental treatment. Schedule routine teeth cleanings and oral exams as you normally would to ensure you do not see complications with your implant.
While rare, an implant could fail if the anchor does not fuse properly with the jawbone. It could feel loose and have a high risk of infection, requiring urgent removal from your dentist.
Gum disease, a common oral infection, can heighten your risk of dental implant failure. So adhere to proper oral hygiene and other dental care to lower the chances of contracting this infection. Ask your dentist for more advice to maximize the benefits of implant dentistry options.