When you're missing a tooth, chances are that you'll want to have it restored so that it looks like the tooth was never gone. A dental implant is a great way to do it. Not only will the implant improve your smile, but give you several oral health benefits by preventing teeth from shifting and stimulating your jawbone to prevent it from deteriorating. This is all possible thanks to a technique that involves inserting an artificial titanium post into your jawbone. A crown is placed on the post that resembles a real tooth, making it look natural to others. If this sounds appealing to you, here are 3 things you should know about getting a dental implant.

Cost

The aspect that can sometimes make or break the possibility of getting a cosmetic dental procedure is the total cost. A dental implant is not cheap, with a single implant costing around $4,250. This price is made up of several factors that should be considered in the overall cost.

For example, while the implant itself having an average cost of $2,450, the crown placed on top of the implant is between $500 and $3,000. In addition, there may be other procedures that you need to have a dental implant installed. This includes a bone graft, which can range from $200 to $3,000, and X-rays. All these costs add up, and must be considered if you are on a budget

Recovery

The recovery process for a dental implant won't keep you out of work for very long. After a 1-2 days you should be able to go back to work and resume your normal responsibilities. There will be a longer period of time for the gums to be completely healed though, taking several months to do so.

Post-Surgery Care

Following your surgery, you should only eat soft foods that will be easy on your gums and teeth while they are healing. Meal replacement liquid shakes may be your best option for those first few days, but could take as long as two weeks until you feel comfortable chewing.

You will also need to floss and brush regularly to keep the area free of bacteria. Rinse using salt water to prevent irritation. If you have been prescribed an antibiotic, make sure to take the complete prescription during the recovery process, even if you are feeling better.

For more information on dental implants, set up a consultation with a dentist in your area.

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