When you decide to move forward with dental implants, you are making a long-term commitment. In fact, if all goes well, you can expect your prosthetic teeth to be with you for many years! Before you receive them, however, you might want to learn more about what you can expect with your rebuilt smile. What do dental implants feel like? Will you always notice their presence, or will they eventually feel like a natural and normal part of your mouth? This blog post provides important information that can prepare you for the road ahead.
How They Feel in the Mouth
During the first few weeks after your dental implant surgery, you will notice some soreness and swelling in your mouth. Most patients are able to easily manage such symptoms with medication, rest, and other practical measures. Because the soft tissue in the mouth tends to heal quite quickly, you should be back to feeling normal in a relatively short period of time.
Once your new restoration (crown, bridge, or denture) is attached to your implants, it might feel odd at first. You might even produce more saliva than usual because your body will register your new teeth as foreign objects. However, this issue is temporary; after you adapt to your restorations, they should feel very comfortable.
Eating with Dental Implants
When you first start eating with your new dental implant restorations, it would be smart to take it easy. For example, it may be best to avoid hard and sticky foods for a while. Be patient and follow your care team’s instructions. As you adjust to your prosthetics, you will be able to incorporate tougher foods into your diet.
In fact, you can expect to reach a point where it is easy for you to eat almost anything. That is because dental implants provide a strong bite force that can stand up to a wide variety of foods, including things like crunchy vegetables, chewy meats, and more. If you had traditional dentures in the past, you are likely to find that implants are much easier to eat with.
How Do Implants Compare with Natural Teeth?
After an adjustment period, most patients do not even notice their dental implants. That is because they are designed to mimic the structure and function of natural teeth. They are extremely secure in the jawbone, and their restorations are made of high-quality materials that are almost indistinguishable from natural teeth.
What do dental implants feel like? You could say that they feel just like natural teeth! Talk to your local dental implant provider to learn more about what to expect with this restorative treatment.
Meet the Practice
Dental implant treatment requires a high level of skill; our three board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons have all the training and experience necessary to handle even complex cases. They want each patient to have a functional, beautiful smile that stands the test of time. If you have questions about dental implants, our Houston oral surgeon team would be pleased to speak with you. Contact Piney Point Dental Implant Center at 713-593-7340.