For many people, dental implants will provide the perfect solution to tooth replacement. This includes individuals who need to replace a single tooth and individuals who will be replacing all of their natural teeth with dentures. This is because dental implants provide the most natural-looking and feeling replacement teeth and provide a much strong bite than full or partial dentures alone. If you are planning to use dental implants when replacing your natural teeth, you may be wondering what to expect during this dental procedure. If so, you can learn more about each step of this procedure below.
Step 1: Extractions
If you still have the tooth or teeth that your dental implant will replace, these teeth will need to be extracted before the implant procedure can move forward. These extractions can be done right in your dentist's office using local anesthesia. While you will not experience any real downtime after a tooth extraction, you will need to allow some time for your gums to heal. If you are having all of your teeth extracted, your dentist will likely provide you with temporary dentures that can be used during this healing period.
Step 2: Bone Grafts
Dental implants require a certain amount of bone density to achieve stability inside the jawbone. If you have suffered bone loss as the result of gum disease, the aging process, or denture use, you may need to get a bone graft done to increase your bone density before moving on to the next step of the implant process.
Step 3: Surgically Placing Implants
This step in the process will often be completed by an oral surgeon while you are under general anesthesia. During this step, your implants will be surgically placed in the jawbone. Once your implants are in place, you will need to allow several months for the bone to heal fully around the implant. This healing period is extremely important and cannot be rushed. Since each person heals at their own rate, this step in the process will be a bit different for each person.
Step 4: Attaching Dental Crown
Once your dentist determines that your bone is healed and your implants are secure, a dental crown will be added to the top of your implant to serve as your new tooth. If you are using dentures to replace a full set of teeth, you will be given a new set of dentures at this point in the process. These new implant-supported dentures will clip onto your new implants rather than simply sitting on top of your gums. This completes the process of getting dental implants.
For more information on dental implants, contact a professional near you.
Share24 July 2023
Being born with naturally soft teeth, I've spent a lot of time in and out of the dentist's office. Not only have I learned a lot about basic dental care, I've also discovered many tips for dealing with broken teeth, extractions, implants, and more. I decided that I wanted to make the most of my experience by sharing what I've learned with others. True first-hand experience is a great teacher, and I knew that my story could help. I created this site to do just that, and I hope that the information here helps you to understand what to expect from your dental problems.