During a dental checkup, your dentist will take a thorough look at your mouth, teeth and gums. Your dentist may also take x-rays of your teeth that show their growth and development. Your dentist will evaluate the presence and/or absence of pathology within your jawbone using an x-ray called a panoramic radiograph. This helps the dentist see how healthy your sinuses, teeth, TMJ and other areas of your mouth and surrounding structures are.
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends every child to be seen by an orthodontist by age 7 to begin evaluation of growth of the teeth, jaws and surrounding structures of the face.
Most patients are able to return to work and/or school the next day (some as soon as the same day). Most patients experience some soreness, swelling and bleeding, that are all addressed with post operative instructions given by the dentist. Pain is usually easily controlled with over the counter medications.
Bone grafting around teeth or prior to dental implant placement may be used in order to restore the bone that was lost due to periodontal disease, trauma or from a traumatic extraction.
It is best to consult with your dentist to have sensitive teeth addressed. There are multiple causes for sensitive teeth, including tooth decay (cavities), gum recession, erosion, attrition (excessive wear of tooth structures), etc. It is best to treat the etiology of the sensitivity, which is best diagnosed and planned with your dentist.
The success rate of dental implants is high. According to the American Dental Association, the success rate for dental implant placement is about 99%. However, that does not mean that everyone will have 100% success with implants. There are some areas where there is a higher failure rate, including infections and bone loss around damaged sites.
Gums may bleed due to multiple reasons. One common reason for gums to bleed is inflammation from long standing plaque and tartar. It is essential to see your dentist or periodontist regularly, 2-4 times a year, as recommended to reduce inflammation.
Like any dental surgery, there is some soreness after dental implant placement surgery. This usually lasts 3-5 days and is easily controlled with medication, prescribed by your dentist or periodontist.