Understanding the Importance of Timely Dental Implant Treatment
The difference in Seomyeon dental clinic recommendations:
The difference in Suwon dental clinic recommendations:
Even if you don't have gum pain, it doesn't mean your condition is fine. Even if you're missing a tooth, you may not feel any particular discomfort at first. However, over time, your chewing habit may become fixed on one side, and as pressure builds up in the jaw joint area, you may start to notice slight changes. Sometimes, others may notice that your mouth movements look awkward when you eat or talk. These changes often become more apparent through external reactions rather than self-awareness.
It's more common than you think for people to delay treatment while considering a visit to a recommended dental clinic in Seomyeon. They postpone it because they can endure it for now and aren't in immediate pain. However, the problem is that the oral structure gradually deteriorates during that time. Even with just one missing tooth, your pronunciation may become slurred, and you may hear that your smile looks different. These changes accumulate gradually and then manifest outwardly at some point.
Natural teeth should not be considered in isolation. If one tooth is missing, the adjacent teeth will start to lean slightly to fill the gap, and the opposing teeth will also become misaligned. At first, the change may not be noticeable, but after about three months, food may get stuck more often, and brushing may not feel as refreshing as before. If bad breath becomes a concern, it can start to affect your overall life.
An even more concerning factor is the condition of the jawbone. When a tooth is lost, the bone in that area doesn't receive stimulation and gradually shrinks. I've heard that in many cases, it can decrease by more than 25-30% within six months. If left untreated for more than a year, it can shrink by nearly half. If that happens, even if you try to get an implant later, you'll have to undergo a bone graft first, which complicates the treatment process and significantly increases the cost.
Dentures or bridges were also considered, but there were clear differences in terms of functionality. Dentures are difficult to wear all day, and the process of taking them in and out is uncomfortable. They can also cause a gagging sensation when chewing food. Bridges require grinding down adjacent teeth, which was also a concern. On the other hand, implants involve individually placing artificial tooth roots without damaging surrounding teeth, and some people have been using them for over 10 years, which gave me some confidence in my choice.
Treatment doesn't start randomly. Before getting an implant at a recommended dental clinic, a panoramic X-ray and CT scan are taken to check the bone height and density. Then, the location and angle for placing the artificial tooth root are planned before proceeding with the implantation. Generally, after implantation, there's a healing period of about six weeks, followed by connecting the abutment and placing the prosthesis. The overall treatment period usually takes about 2 to 3 months.
Of course, this isn't the case for everyone. If the jawbone has been significantly resorbed, a bone graft alone can take 3 to 4 weeks or more, and the treatment period can be extended to 4 to 5 months. In particular, if you're over 65 or have conditions that can affect healing, such as diabetes or osteoporosis, the recovery rate may be slower, so it's very important to get a thorough examination beforehand.
The cost varies from person to person. The basic implantation starts from around 1.2 million won, but if additional treatments such as bone grafting or sinus lift are needed, it can cost more than 2 million won. Depending on the situation, there can be a difference of more than 500,000 won. Therefore, rather than judging based on price alone, it's more accurate to get an examination and confirm a quote that matches your individual plan.
Whether health insurance can be applied is also an important factor. If you're 65 years or older and meet the requirements, your co-payment can be reduced to around 30%. However, this doesn't apply to everyone and only applies if you've used existing dentures or have lost a certain number of teeth. Therefore, many people directly inquire at the hospital to check their insurance eligibility.
Ultimately, the timing of treatment determines everything. If you start treatment when bone loss isn't significant, it can be completed relatively simply, but if you delay it for too long, additional surgery or a longer recovery period may be required, increasing the burden. There's a reason why people say that the earliest possible time is the best time to get the treatment you need. The more it's delayed, the more complex the treatment becomes, and the more the cost and time increase.
Implants aren't just about filling an empty space. It's an important process of correcting a collapsed structure and restoring overall oral health. Even if you don't feel any immediate discomfort, the changes that are gradually occurring inside will eventually return as clear problems. Therefore, it's a much faster start to first check your current condition and when treatment is required.
Source :https://blog.naver.com/spike2121/224060328067
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