Tooth loss can create many oral health issues. You might struggle to perform your usual oral functions, feel unhappy with gaps in your smile, or have a higher risk of further dental complications.
A dentist can restore your smile with tooth replacement through implant dentistry. You can see effective and comprehensive dental benefits. But you might worry that these fixed prosthetics will interfere with other types of dental work.
You can still get the dental care you need even after receiving implants. But a dentist might need to use a unique approach. Read on to learn how you can undergo certain dental procedures after replacing missing teeth with dental implants.
Can I Whiten Dental Implant Prosthetics?
Your dental implant features a prosthetic crown, bridge, or denture, depending on how many teeth you need replacing. These fixtures will resist stains, ensuring your replaced tooth can look beautiful in your smile for as long as possible. Implants can last for twenty years or longer.
But your natural teeth might start to turn yellow or form stains. So you might wonder if you can pursue teeth whitening treatment that works to brighten your smile, even if you have a dental implant.
A prosthetic tooth will not respond to your dentist’s teeth whitening treatment though. Whitening involves applying a bleaching gel to teeth that lifts stubborn stains in the enamel that can then easily scrub away. The material does not respond to the ceramic of your dental prosthetics.
But your dentist can whiten teeth around the implant. If you want a whiter finish to the prosthetic, your dentist will need to replace it with a new fixture.
Can I Straighten My Smile After Implant Dentistry?
A dental implant relies on a surgically inserted titanium post anchor in the jaw. This fuses with the bone there to support the dental prosthetics. So once this appliance is in place, it will not move.
If you have crooked teeth or dental alignment concerns, you should address those prior to undergoing implant dentistry. But if you need to straighten your teeth, your dentist might refer you to an orthodontist to find ways to align your smile around this implant. Your dentist might also suggest cosmetic dental work that can make your smile appear straighter, like tooth bonding or porcelain veneers.
What If I Get a Cavity While I Have Dental Implants?
A dental implant will not form tooth decay, but your surrounding natural teeth might still develop a cavity. If this occurs, your dentist can work around your implant to treat this early stage of decay as they normally would.
But if the decay forms close to the implant, the dentist might need to remove it or drill more extensively to effectively remove the damaged part of the tooth. Your dentist will find the proper way to restore your smile after this treatment as well. Fight cavities with proper preventative dental care both at home and at your dentist’s office.