Dental implants are an excellent way to replace a missing tooth and are loved both by patients and dentists.
People often choose these artificial teeth because they look perfectly natural and don’t require any special maintenance other than good oral hygiene. Dentists also recommend it because it can support long-term jawbone health thanks to the metal post that gets inserted into the jaw to provide stimulation.
But will getting a dental implant mean your natural teeth start shifting? Check out this short blog post to find out:
This one’s usually a feeling.
Dental implants don’t cause natural teeth to move. For one thing, the implant is custom-made to suit the patient’s individual needs, meaning the color, tooth shape, and even size. This means the implant won’t be too big for you and start causing the teeth to shift.
But patients can feel tightness in this area once the dental crown is attached to the implant. This is even more common if you’ve been dealing with missing teeth for a long time. After a couple of days, this tightness goes away, and patients are convinced their teeth moved to "make room" for the implant.
This tightness just means your teeth need a bit of time to adjust to the new implant. You’ve grown accustomed to an empty space there, so once an implant is placed, it can feel strange. But once the tightness disappears, it means you’ve successfully adjusted to your new artificial tooth.
In very rare cases, a dental implant may cause the other teeth to shift. For instance, an underlying oral health issue such as gum disease can affect the structure of the implant and your natural teeth, making them loosen and even shift.
Or, it could be a sign of implant failure, which means the body is rejecting the metal post because of an underlying condition such as a titanium allergy.
Usually, dentists carefully analyze each patient’s case to determine if they are a good candidate for implants to prevent the risk of failure. However, if you are experiencing signs of failure, the dentist might have missed something in your oral health or medical history. Reach out to them as soon as possible to get the appropriate treatment.
Getting a dental implant starts with a consultation with Dr. Julia Winter, who will assess your oral health and outcome expectations to determine if you’re a good candidate for these artificial teeth.
And if you’re not, don’t worry. There are many other procedures available to restore both the look and function of your smile.
Schedule an implant consultation at Kite & Key Dentistry now to discover your options.
For more information about implants or our other services, call us at 484-240-7741 today.
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