Dental implants restore full oral function, including biting and chewing. If you are missing a tooth you might consider a dental implant. Dental implants are considered a permanent solution to tooth loss and can considerably improve one’s oral health, as well as the appearance of one’s smile. Dental implants are placed gently into the jaw bone which means that they are both strong and stable. In fact, dental implants look and feel just like natural teeth and can restore one’s ability to eat and speak. There are no dietary restrictions with dental implants, although you may find it best to eat soft foods while you recover from surgery. Read on to find out more about dental implants, what to expect from the process, and why they are worth considering when it comes to restoring your smile… What does dental implant treatment involve? If you are considering a dental implant you will need to begin the process by coming in for an assessment. Your dentist will examine your mouth and jaws and let you know if you are a suitable candidate for the treatment. If you decide to go ahead with the treatment, your dentist will refer you to a periodontist or oral surgeon who will surgically place your implant. Once the implant has been placed, you will need to wait between three and six months for it to heal and fuse with the jaw bone. When your implant has fused with the jaw bone in a process known as osseointegration, your dentist will place a crown or other prosthetic restoration to complete the treatment and achieve a natural-looking aesthetic. What can you expect after the procedure? After you have been through dental implant surgery it is completely normal to experience mild to moderate pain. During your recovery period it is best to eat soft foods while your mouth heals. Try to stick to foods that are easy to eat and that don’t require much chewing — some good options include soups, smoothies, oatmeal, scrambled eggs, soft pasta, and mashed fruits and vegetables. Once the side-effects of your surgery resolve you will be able to incorporate more foods into your diet, and once you have recovered completely, you will be able to resume your usual diet. Are there dietary restrictions? One of the benefits of dental implants is that there are no dietary restrictions. Because implants function just like natural teeth you can eat all of your favourite foods without issue. That said, it is advisable that you eat a balanced and healthy diet in order to maintain your oral health in the long term. Try to limit your consumption of foods and drinks that contain sugar as these can contribute to the build-up of plaque, and the development of tooth decay. How can we help? At Hyde Park Dental Care, we offer a range of restorative dental treatments, including dental implants. If you are missing one or more teeth and would like to restore both the function and appearance of your smile, we encourage you to come in and see us. We will perform an examination and let you know if you are a suitable candidate for dental implant treatment. At Hyde Park Dental Care our dental implant procedures cover all types of tooth loss and include single tooth implants; implant bridges; implant-supported dentures and fixed dentures (all-on-4). If you would like to find out more about dental implants and what to expect from the process, please have a look here. If you would like to arrange a consultation with us, please give us a call on 02 9267 9526 or get in touch with us here. The team at Hyde Park Dental Care also offers a comprehensive range of general, cosmetic, orthodontic, preventative, sleep, emergency and children’s dentistry services. Take a look here to find out more about our treatments. Don’t forget to share this via Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and LinkedIn.