Do Dental Implants Feel Natural?

A dental implant to replace a missing tooth is a great option, but what do they feel like?

As many cosmetic dentists will agree, an increasing number of people are expressing an interest in having dental implants instead of dentures when they have lost a tooth or a number of teeth. There are many good reasons for this as we have mentioned before, but to briefly recap, they are strong, stable and, with good care, they can last for 20 years or more.

In addition to their strength, enabling the wearer to eat whatever they want, implants look more natural than a denture. Although dentures have definitely improved in aesthetics over the years, they still look less natural than a dental implant does. One question that we do get asked reasonably frequently at Alexandra Dental Care though, is what do they actually feel like? This is understandable and some people do find the idea of having one placed into the jawbone a little off putting. Let’s take a look at this, both the procedure and the longer term ‘feel’ of dental implants.

The procedure

Perhaps the biggest challenge for any of our Burton and Ashby patients who are considering implant placement is the idea of the implant being placed into the jawbone. There is no getting away from it that this might, on the surface of it, appear to be quite painful. The reality is different though. Whilst we are not about to claim that you will enjoy the procedure, you shouldn’t find it any more uncomfortable than many other invasive dental treatments.

The procedure is performed using the latest technology including scanning equipment to ensure that the implant is placed in exactly the right position. You will also be given a powerful local anaesthetic which will minimise any discomfort that you might feel. You might also wish to consider having IV sedation for this treatment. This is generally used for nervous patients but can also help for treatments which take longer, such as teeth implants.

Following placement

As you might expect with a procedure like this, there may be some discomfort immediately afterwards. This shouldn’t be too significant though and most people find it manageable with the use of their usual pain killing medication. This should only last for a short while and although care will need to be taken for some time whilst the implant fuses with the bone, there should be no long term discomfort.

Longer term

Having undergone this treatment, it is understandable that people want a replacement tooth that feels as close to the real thing as possible. Do dental implants fit this role though?

By the time that you are ready to have the crown attached to the implant, any significant unnatural feeling from the implant itself should have gone. Although the addition of a crown shouldn’t make any difference to the sensation, the fact is that you will now have a tooth there that you won’t previously have had, possibly for some time. This can feel a little strange initially, especially when you eat. There shouldn’t be any discomfort but it may feel as though you have a foreign object in your mouth.

Although your brain will gradually accept this new tooth and you will forget that you have it, we advise that although the implant will, by this stage, be strong enough to eat anything you want, it is best to start with softer foods that have less of an impact on your new replacement tooth. This will allow you to adjust to the way that it feels when you eat, gradually building up confidence and familiarity to eat as you normally would.

Once this initial ‘strangeness’ has subsided, the vast majority of people with dental implants find that they treat them as they would a natural tooth and forget that they have them. With no messy cleaning and other inconveniences, teeth implants truly are the closest thing to a natural tooth currently available.

If you would like to find out more about implants and live in the Burton or Ashby area, we can arrange for you to have a free consultation with our implant dentist. Please call Alexandra Dental Care on 01283 216347.

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