
Dental Implant Placement in Orange County, Anaheim, Laguna Woods & Mission Viejo | Snoring Treatment
Dental Implant Placement
Dental Implant Placement
Dental implants have gained immense popularity recently, thanks to the technological advances in the field of dentistry. Today, the implant procedure is safer, faster, and more effective than ever.
What is a dental implant??
A dental implant is a titanium rod that replaces your tooth root. Sometimes, your dentist may choose to cap the dental implant with a dental crown, bridge, or dentures. It depends on number of missing teeth and dental implant placement.
Dental Implant Placement
Dental implant placement is a secure procedure that guarantees results.
To place a dental implant successfully, you should meet the following key requirements.
- Jaw bone density should be adequate to ensure that the titanium will integrate with the bone at the implant site.
- Good oral health, with no infection in the area of the surgical site.
- Good overall physical health so that you can support the healing at the implant site.
An overview of the procedure
If you are a candidate for dental implant placement, then your dentist will remove the damaged tooth in the first step. On your next visit, your jawbone is prepared for the surgery. It may involve bone grafting and therefore require some time to heal.
Once your jawbone heals, your dental surgeon will proceed to place the dental implant in your jawbone. This step will be followed by a healing period stretching to a few months.
After healing, your dentist will place the abutment. Sometimes, your oral surgeon may perform this procedure when placing the implant.
The final step in this surgery is to place the final tooth. Your dentist will make molds of your teeth and jawbone to give you a perfect tooth.
Dental implant placement may take a few months since each stage requires healing. Your oral surgeon will also have to wait for new bone in your jaw to grow so that the implants could hold on to their position.
Do you require bone grafting for dental implants?
Sometimes, your oral surgeon may perform bone grafting before placing dental implants. Usually, this is the case when your jawbone is thin and soft. Without bone grafting, your weak bones might not survive the pressure during chewing action.
A bone graft improves implant stability. It provides a solid base for the implants.
Bone grafting is simply a procedure where a surgeon will take a bone from another part of your body and use it in your jawbone. Today, surgeons can use artificial bone instead of transplanting a bone from another part of your body.
How to choose your new artificial teeth
When your oral surgeon has placed the abutment, you have a recovery period of 1-2 weeks. After that, you will need to choose your new artificial tooth.
After your gums heal, your dentist will take impressions of your gums and teeth to prepare the crown and your artificial teeth.
You have three options when it comes to choosing your new teeth.
- Removable
- Fixed
- Combination of both
Removable teeth have their unique advantages due to being removable. You can easily clean them and take them out when you see a risk of damaging them such as during outdoor sports. You can also take out the teeth easily when it’s time to send it to your dentist for repairing.
On the other hand, fixed teeth are the right choice for patients who have several missing teeth. It’s easier to replace them with permanent teeth. However, for most patients, the cost could be a concern when replacing several teeth with permanent artificial teeth. The better solution is to opt for implants bridged together.
What to expect after the procedure?
After the procedure, you may experience some typical discomforts such as swelling of your gums, inflammation of your face, skin bruising, and pain. Some patients may also experience minor bleeding at the implant site.
If swelling or pain is getting worse, see your doctor immediately. You may be in need of medications.
Make sure you eat a healthy diet rich in lean protein and vitamins. It will help you recover quickly. Your gums will heal in time and you will have fewer post-surgery discomforts to handle.
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