What is the Procedure of Dental Implants

A missing tooth doesn’t seem much like a problem when it happens. But gradually, you come to know about the issues that it causes to the normal functions of the mouth. Some days, it is funny when the chewing gum gets stuck in the gap where your tooth was. On other days, it might be annoying for some who like to have hard foods like pretzels and nuts. Hard substances hitting the gum and the open nerves feel like hell. Dental implants were developed to help patients get a replacement of their teeth artificially and still function naturally. Dental implants have gained popularity over other treatments for missing teeth, like dentures or dental bridges, that are more temporary than implants. Due to the surgery required for the placement of implants, people are anxious about the procedure. But here’s what the procedure looks like.

Preparing for the Dental Implant Procedure

The dental Implant procedure takes time to get completed and even before that, you might require some extra visits to the dentist to determine your suitability for dental implants and if any other procedures like bone grafting are required. Before you can begin with the procedure, you have to meet some specialists and doctors. For example, a maxillofacial surgeon to determine the shape of the jaws and cheek bones, a periodontist for the examination of your gums and jawbones and a prosthodontist to design the artificial teeth.

You’ll have to go through a comprehensive dental exam. The dentist first asks for an X-ray of your teeth and jawbone to determine the position and size of the implant that goes into the cavity of the lost tooth. The dentist must know about your medical history. You must tell your dentist about any medications you are on and if you have had any heart conditions.

Your treatment plan will be prepared on the factors checked by your dentist and specializing doctors. Such as the number of teeth to be removed and if the jawbone is suitable enough to place the implant.

Steps Included in the Procedure

The complete procedure of dental implants is taken in steps along with several dental visits. The steps may include:

1. - Extraction of a damaged or partially broken tooth.
2. - Preparation of jawbone for bone grafting only if needed.
3. - Dental implant placement.
4. - Bone growth around the implant and healing.
5. - Abutment placement.
6. - Artificial tooth placement.

The Procedure of Dental Implants

Dental implants are small metal screws made to resemble the root of teeth. To place the dental implant into the jawbone, your jawbone must be durable enough to hold on to the implant. If the jawbone is not suitably strong for the implant, a piece of bone from another part of the body will be grafted into your jawbone to support the implant. But this procedure is rarely needed.

Once the bone has been grafted (if needed), the doctor will need to make incisions in the gum to expose the bone. A small bone drill is used to drill the hole for the implant screw. After the implant has been rooted deep into the bone, the fixture is then allowed to heal for a couple of days for the bone to grow around the implant. The abutment and the artificial tooth are then placed on the implant after making sure that the implant wound has healed.

Dental implants are an extensive procedure, and every individual has a different reaction towards it, depending on their physical condition. For any queries on dental implants and other restorative dentistry, contact the dental care clinic near you.