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If you’re missing one or even several teeth, you may be considering dental implants from your dentist in Sparks. After all, dental implants are an excellent way to replace your natural tooth as well as the tooth root. They’re permanent, secure, and can transform your life. But just how painful is it to get dental implants? 

What to Expect

Deciding to get a dental implant is an important decision to make, so it’s important to know what to expect before your procedure. Dental implant treatment is a surgical procedure that can be completed in one day under either general or local anesthesia. Your dentist in Sparks will prep the area, which may include extracting a damaged tooth or performing a bone graft if your jaw needs more support. After that, the process includes: 

• Placing the implant into the jaw bone
• Allowing the bone to fuse to the implant (this can take a few months)
• Placing an abutment for the crown to sit on
• Finishing up with an artificial tooth that’s custom-crafted to match your ideal smile

Does it Hurt? 

Any type of surgery can be scary, especially when we’re talking about placing a metal post into the jaw bone. However, thanks to advancements in dental technology, many patients don’t experience any pain during the actual treatment and some may only have minor discomfort after the procedure. Mild pain can occur at the placement location as well as in the face and jaw. The good news is that patients often say this temporary pain is well worth getting their smile back. 

How Long Does The Pain Last? 

While it can depend on the case, most patients can feel some level of discomfort for about 10-14 days. There may also be some swelling, but the pain is often well controlled with antibiotics, following post-op instructions, and perhaps painkillers. If pain lasts longer than 14 days, patients should schedule an appointment with their dentist in Sparks to make sure everything is healing properly. 

What You Can do To Reduce Pain

Besides following your dentist’s instructions, there are things you can do to help promote healing and relieve pain quickly. 

• Gently rinse with warm saltwater
• Avoid crunchy and hot foods
• Continue to brush and floss your teeth, taking care to brush gently near the implant site
• Use a cold compress to help reduce swelling

You don’t have to live with missing teeth. There are many options to replace your natural teeth, including dental implants or perhaps dentures. Talk to your dentist in Sparks about the best way to replace missing teeth so you can make the right choice for yourself.

Now that we have your attention, the truth is, we don’t really have a big dental secret. But we do have some interesting news. Researchers have compiled evidence that supports the idea that good dental health can help slow down the aging process, and who doesn’t want to stay younger for longer? Let’s check in with your dentist in Sparks to see exactly how healthy teeth could help out as we get older.

Inflammation

The main connection between aging and oral health is inflammation. Inflammation occurs as the body’s response to infection or injury and is very common in those who have gum disease. Gum disease often occurs from poor oral hygiene, among other things, and can be damaging to both oral health and overall health. In fact, research shows that those with gum disease are at increased risk of heart disease and dementia, among other whole-body problems. 

When gum disease is present, so is inflammation. What makes it worse is that advanced gum disease can’t be reversed by your dentist in Sparks. This means that your body is constantly exposed to chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation can weaken your immune system and make it harder for the body to fight off disease, including age-related diseases. 

Appearance

Keeping your teeth healthy and strong can also help reduce the appearance of aging. While having white teeth is one sign of a younger appearance, there are many other ways your oral health can help keep you looking young. 

Teeth and the entire jaw essentially form your facial appearance. This is one reason why it’s so important to keep your natural teeth. Without them, your face can take on a baggy, older look. To help keep your teeth for a lifetime, make sure you brush and floss every day and see your dentist in Sparks at least every six months. 

How Can Dentistry Help? 

Even if your smile is showing your age more than you want it to, there are numerous ways dentistry can help. Depending on your specific concerns, you may be a candidate for certain types of cosmetic dentistry or restorative dentistry, such as: 

• Smile Whitening – Professional whitening can help transform the color of your teeth and make you look younger. 
• Dental Veneers – Veneers can cover up any imperfections that you don’t like and create a youthful smile. 
• Dental Implants – Missing teeth can often be replaced with dental implants. These permanent replacements help in many ways, including continuing to stimulate the jaw bone so it doesn’t take on a sagging appearance. 

As we’ve mentioned before, we don’t really have a huge dental secret to help during the aging process. Truly, taking care of your teeth by brushing and flossing regularly and seeing your dentist in Sparks at least twice a year are easy ways to protect your oral health and keep you feeling and looking young.