An Overview of Dental Implants Procedure Steps: What To Know?

Posted by Ebony Fallon on May 27, 2022 in Dentistry | 0 comments

Missing teeth can affect your bite alignment, facial shape, and your smile. If you choose to replace your missing teeth, most dentists may recommend dental implant surgery. This treatment is an invasive, modern method that can surely improve your oral health. Furthermore, there are a few dental implants procedure steps that require several weeks of recovery. So, if you decide to get a dental implant, you need to schedule an appointment with your dentist to create a proper treatment plan for you. Keep reading to learn more about the procedures of dental implants, including the steps to make the treatment lasts. If you want to learn more about the cost of getting tooth implants, click on this link.

Dental Implant Surgery For Missing Teeth

Many patients consider dental implants as a painful dental procedure since it involves surgical approach. Despite its invasive technique, an implant can give a strong foundation for tooth dental implants procedure steps replacement, whether fixed or removable replacement such as dentures or a dental bridge. The dentist will surgically place the implant in your jawbone. The implant is made of titanium and acts as the root for missing or damaged teeth. The titanium blends with your jawbone over time. Hence, it will not slip, make noise, or cause bone harm. In addition, the materials used in dental implants are very excellent. In fact, they will not rot like your own teeth that support regular dental bridges.

Dental Implant Procedure

Usually, dental implant surgery is an outpatient operation that the dentist or oral surgeon performs in stages and incorporates healing time between procedures. The whole interaction can require a few months from beginning to end. This is because of the healing and development of new bone in your jaw most of the time.

In any case, the most common way of placing a dental implant includes:

Planning

The planning process for a dental implant procedure can include various specialists, depending on your specific condition. This can be an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, periodontist, prosthodontist, and at times, an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor.

Since the dental implant procedure requires one or more surgical approaches, you have a thorough examination to prepare for the treatment. Generally, you will have a:

Comprehensive dental exam. This includes dental X-rays, 3D images, and models of your teeth and jaw.
Review of your medical history. This includes informing your doctor about your medical conditions and the medications you take. Suppose you have orthopedic implants or certain heart conditions. Then, your doctor may recommend antibiotics before the operation to help prevent infection.
Treatment plan. The treatment plan will depend on your personal condition. This may include the condition of your jaw and the number of your teeth you need to replace. Also, this consists of a team of professionals who will provide the treatment care based on the ideal implant option for you.

Moreover, your dentist will use anesthesia during surgery to control the pain. This includes local anesthesia, sedation, or general anesthesia. If you are getting sedation or general anesthesia, ask someone to take you home after the operation and expect to rest that day.

Placing the Dental Implant

Your oral surgeon or dentist will cut your gums open and expose the bone. They will drill the holes into the bone, where they will place the metal post. As the jawbone recovers, it advances around the implanted metal post, which secures safely in the jaw. The recovery for this can require six weeks or several months.

Bone Graft (Optional Step)

If you do not have enough bone to support the implant, your dentist may need to perform a bone grafting technique. This additional procedure creates a sturdy solid foundation for the implant. Since there are several options for bone graft materials, your dentist will help determine the right choices for you. In any case, a bone graft may take several months to generate and grow sufficient new bone to support a dental implant. The measure of time required relies upon whether your graft is minor or more significant.

Attaching the Abutment

The dentist will attach the abutment, a small connector post, to the implanted root post once the implant has bonded to the jawbone. The function of the abutment is to hold the new tooth securely. To put the abutment, your dentist or oral surgeon will open your gum once more to expose the dental implant. Then, they will join the abutment to the implant and close the gum tissue around the abutment.

Making and Attaching the Artificial Tooth

Once your gums are totally healed, your dentist will make more dental impressions to create your artificial dental crown. This replacement tooth will indeed coordinate the color of your natural The woman looks at her teeth in the mirror after dental implant surgery. teeth. In any case, the dentist cannot install the crown until the jawbone is strong enough to hold the new tooth.

Furthermore, you can pick artificial teeth that are fixed, removable, or a blend of both.

Removable: This is similar to a traditional removable denture.

Fixed: This includes permanently screwed or cemented tooth onto a singular implant abutment. Usually, the dentist attaches one crown to its own dental implant. Nevertheless, because of the strength of implants, your dentist can replace several teeth with a single implant if they are bridged together.

After the Procedure

You might encounter some dental discomfort but not similar when you develop an abscess in your wisdom tooth. Usually, the inconveniences you experience are related to any sort of surgery. In any case, you may have:

Pain at the implant site
Minor bleeding
Bruising of your skin and gums
Swelling of your gums and face

Your dentist or oral surgeon may prescribe painkillers or antibiotics after that. It is also best to eat soft foods while the surgical site is healing. Mostly, if you have dissolving stitches, they will disappear all alone. If not, your dentist will remove them. In addition, remember to contact your doctor if the swelling and pain get worse in the days after surgery.

Taking Care of Your Dental Implant

You can help your dental work and remaining natural teeth last longer if you:

Avoid damaging habits such as chewing hard items like ice and hard candy.
Practice proper oral hygiene, such as daily flossing and brushing your teeth at least twice a day.
Lastly, see your dentist regularly. Make sure to schedule regular dental checkups to monitor the condition of your implant and keep your smile healthy.

You can schedule an appointment at Boutique Dental Care Chatswood if you want to know the best tooth replacement option for you.