Braces as an adult? No way. At least, that was what I thought when my dentist told me that I was going to have to see an orthodontist about my crooked teeth. But my teeth were so misaligned that they were causing me pain when I chewed, so I decided to at least look into it. Turns out braces today are nothing like the ones my friends had when I was a kid. Mine were practically invisible, and I didn't need to wear them that long. I started this blog to encourage other people like me who are nervous about the prospect of wearing braces as an adult. My straight smile is so worth the trips to the orthodontist, and wearing braces was nowhere near as bad as I thought. Read on to find out more about how you can straighten your smile.
There are many reasons why someone may choose to pursue cosmetic dentistry, but it can be challenging to
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There's no denying that dental implants are one of the best restorations out there. Dental implants can:
While you may be very excited for these outcomes, you do need to realize that with any surgery, there are mental and emotional challenges to get through. Medical News Today says that many people who go through surgery suffer from depression. There's all sorts of factors that can contribute to this issue. Some patients feel side effects from antibiotics, analgesics, and anesthesia, while other patients simply feel drained from the recovery process.
How Does Depression Affect Recovery After Implant Surgery?
Anxiety and stress are common symptoms of depression. When your body's stress levels are raised, you can develop an inflammatory response. While inflammation is the body's natural way of healing, the development of chronic inflammation is dangerous, as it weakens your immune system.
Besides the risk of inflammation, heightened stress levels may cause you to develop bruxism. Bruxism, or teeth grinding, is a behavioral pattern that the body unconsciously develops to cope with stress. Unfortunately, if you develop bruxism, you could increase your risk of implant failure, as grinding teeth can place undue pressure on the implant, thus making it harder for the implant to integrate into the jaw bone.
What Can You Do to Reduce Depression?
Just being aware of the symptoms beforehand can help. Remind yourself before surgery that you may be sore and in pain, but it will all be temporary. If you know that you grind your teeth, you may need to get a bone graft before the implant procedure so there's a better chance of integration. After the procedure, your dentist can fit you with a mouthguard so that if you do clench your teeth, the pressure will be displaced.
Be sure to follow your dentist's after-care instructions to the letter. Not only will this reduce your risk of infection, but it will also help you feel less depressed since you know you are doing everything in your power to heal.
Although most of the discomfort will be during the first couple of days, it will take your implant about four to six months to integrate. Before this time, make sure you have some menu ideas in place so you aren't depressed about dietary restrictions.
Lastly, be sure to have friends and family members help you immediately after surgery. You shouldn't be doing heavy physical activity for the first few days after surgery, so make sure you clear your schedule to reduce your stress levels.
To find more info on dental implants, contact dentists in your local area.
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