The spacing of your teeth contributes immensely to their attractiveness. One or more gaps from missing permanent teeth may cause you to be insecure about your appearance. But, you can have dental implants to seal these gaps permanently. Luckily, dental implants give the impression of and function like regular teeth.
A dental implant is an element that is surgically fixed to the jawbone to provide support to a dental prosthesis. It resembles a screw or cylinder and is made of titanium or other non-reactive material. Above the implant, the orthodontist places an artificial tooth called a crown.
The implant is fitted in the jawbone so that it can have stable support. The jawbone allows the tooth to stay in position and makes chewing or biting possible. The dental implant must not cause an adverse reaction on the support gum tissue or the jawbone.
Dental implants are an excellent alternative to having dentures or bridges. They are also the closest you can get to natural teeth.
Once the dentist has approved you for implants, he or she plans your procedure. You may have it done at the dentist’s office or a hospital. It all depends on the extent of surgery needed and your desired outcome.
The process of placing the implants itself may take a long time. The dentist spreads your appointments over a few months and conducts the procedure in the following phases:
In this phase, the dentist conducts a comprehensive evaluation of your condition. It may include X-rays, an evaluation of your jawbone, and a determination of the number of teeth you need. The dentist also asks about any preexisting conditions and the medication you could be on. You also receive a list of instructions to take up in preparation for your surgery.
The surgery phase happens in several stages. The dental surgeon takes out the damaged teeth or bits of them remaining. He or she then preps your jawbone for surgery. You may need some bone grafting too.
Once the jawbone is healed and ready, the surgeon fixes the implant inside the gumline. Then, the jaw is given some more time to heal before placing the abutment inside the implant. The abutment is the piece that the dentist screws in to make the implant.
For the final step, the dentist attaches a crown on the abutment, completing the tooth. The crown is customized to fit your mouth and resemble your other teeth. For this, the dentist makes impressions of your other teeth and uses them to design a tooth for your implant. You may have a fixed or a removable implant prosthesis.
The process takes anywhere between three and nine months to complete. After this, the implanted tooth works as well as a natural tooth would.
After the surgery, you may experience some discomfort. You may have some minor bleeding, bruised gums, and pain at the site of implant surgery. These symptoms improve in the days after surgery. In case of swelling, apply some ice packs to the surgical site. Your dentist may also ask you to stick to soft foods to avoid putting unnecessary pressure on your gums.
Dental implants are a lasting solution to your missing teeth problem. To have your implants installed, visit T. Merrell Williams, DMD, MS, at the Implant Dentistry Periodontics & Facial Rejuvenation.
Get dental implants, contact Implant Dentistry Periodontics & Facial Rejuvenation in Tampa & Wesley Chapel, FL at (813) 517-0100 or (813) 973-7770.
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