If you lose one or more teeth, you should seek tooth replacement treatment from your dentist to avoid further dental complications. Your dentist might recommend implant dentistry for highly comprehensive, durable, and natural-looking prosthetic teeth.
While these long-lasting fixtures in your smile can offer many restorative dental benefits, some people may worry about how fixed implants seem stuck in your smile. You might wonder if implants in your mouth will affect your ability to undergo other dental work.
Dental implants will influence your oral health in some ways, but you can still receive other dental treatments as needed at your dentist’s office. Discover how you can experience dental procedures that you need and desire after replacing missing teeth with implants when you read on.
Can I Whiten My Teeth with Dental Implants?
Over time, your desired pearly white tooth color may start to fade. Your teeth might seem yellowish, or you could see dark stains develop in your smile. If this occurs, your dentist can use professional teeth-whitening treatment to lift stubborn dental stains and brighten your smile.
The treatment uses bleaching agents to penetrate the tooth enamel and dissolve dental discoloration. While this can work in your natural teeth, the prosthetic teeth of your dental implants will not respond to these ingredients. You will not be able to whiten your implants.
The prosthetic teeth of your implants will resist staining. But you can talk to your dentist about how to whiten your smile around your implants. In some cases, they can apply whitening gel on the surrounding natural teeth.
However, this may mean that your teeth no longer match the custom color of your dental implant. Most dentists recommend whitening your teeth before receiving implants for this reason.
Will Dental Implants Disrupt Teeth-Straightening Treatment?
If you have crooked teeth, your dentist can help you straighten your smile with clear braces. These custom-made trays gradually push your teeth into your desired aligned position for both cosmetic and dental health benefits.
Your dental implant will not respond to this teeth-straightening treatment though. The implant process involves inserting an anchor into the jaw which fuses with the bone there. Once in place, it cannot move, even with clear braces treatment.
If you want to straighten your smile, you should consult with your dentist about this treatment before pursuing implants. You might need to speak to an orthodontist if you want to align your smile when you already have an implant.
Can My Dentist Treat Cavities Around Dental Implants?
Dental implants will not suffer from decay, but if you have remaining teeth, they can form cavities. You can prevent tooth decay by maintaining good oral hygiene habits. But if you get a cavity near a dental implant, you might worry that a dentist cannot treat it.
Your dentist can diagnose and treat these cavities, even if they seem hidden by your prosthetic teeth. Routine x-rays can spot tooth decay, and your dentist can navigate around the implants to access the cavity and offer treatment.
If needed, a dentist can remove the prosthetic teeth and then replace them during the cavity treatment. So you do not have to worry about implants interfering with your ability to receive dental care.