Dental Implants
Dental Implants For Improved Quality Of Life
Dental implants can help improve the quality of your life by allowing you to smile, talk and eat completely naturally, which can have a significant impact on your overall well-being. A dental implant is used to replace the root of a tooth and a crown, dentures or bridgework can be attached to it by various means, thereby giving you back a set of strong teeth.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are artificial tooth roots placed into or on the jaw and are used to secure dentures, crowns, or bridgework. There are two types of dental implants, namely endosteal and subperiosteal. The former is the most common type of dental implant that is shaped either like a screw, cylinder or blade and is inserted surgically into the jawbone. Subperiosteal implants are positioned on top of the jawbone and are used for patients who can’t wear normal dentures and don’t have a lot of bone height. Once in place, a dental implant is no longer visible.
Most dental implants are made from titanium, because it is a strong and lightweight metal, but also due to the fact that the body doesn’t reject it. It also has the ability to fuse to bone effectively, which is why dental implants are so successful.
What are mini dental implants?
Mini dental implants, as the name suggests, are a smaller version of traditional implants. They are made of the same strong Titanium allow, but are usually used in the replacement of a single tooth. While they offer the same benefits, these are more affordable dental implants than their traditional counterparts simply because fewer pieces are required. Furthermore, less surgery is necessary, which means a faster recovery time.
How Does A Dental Implant Procedure Work?
The first step is for you to come in for a consultation, when we will discuss all your options and come to an agreement in terms of your treatment. In all likelihood, a Panoramic X-ray will be necessary to determine whether you are a candidate and to create surgical guides for the procedure.
During the procedure itself, we will first prepare your jaw to receive the dental implants, which means we will drill a small hole in the area where there is not tooth. This will ensure the screw portion of the implant ends up where it’s supposed to go.
The hole will be widened slowly and the implant will be placed. Gum tissue will then be pulled over the implant and a cover will be placed on the implant to allow for healing. While in most cases, we will be able to place all your dental implants in one session, three to six months will be required for the implants to integrate with the bone.
After bone integration has taken place, we will uncover the implant and attached the abutment, which is what will hold a crown in place. A temporary crown will be attached to the abutment to give your gums time to grow and reshape themselves around the crown. Once that is done, we will attach the permanent crown.
what to expect after dental implants
You can expect some discomfort after the surgical procedure, along with some swelling in your face and gums. The site itself might bleed a little and there may be some bruising. However, it’s nothing prescription pain medication can’t take care of.
It will take up to six months for healing to complete after the implants are placed, and another two months after we attach the crown. Of course, this timeframe can vary from person to person.
how to take care of your dental implants
After the initial surgery, you will need to maintain a diet of soft foods for up to a week. It is vital that you brush and floss regularly because improper hygiene care is the main reason implants fail. And if you smoke, then your best option is to quit because it can cause implant failure. On the other hand, if excellent oral hygiene is employed, dental implants can last up to 40 years.
Determining whether dental implants are a good solution for your particular case is something that will be done in a consultation. However, if you have lost teeth and prefer a more natural look to traditional dentures, or are unable to wear them, then dental implants are certainly an option. Book an appointment today so we can discuss the best course of action for your situation.