Dental Implants are a very sophisticated treatment for the loss of teeth and require a considerable amount of time and effort on part of your doctor and, most importantly, yourself. That is why it is important to know exactly what the process of getting an implant or series of implants entails and understanding the procedures involved.
Getting to know your circumstances
Prior to doing anything else, your doctor will want to examine you and get a record of your medical history. You will want to take this time to discuss your options with him or her and understand just what kind of candidate you are for dental implants. During this period, your dentist will take a complete dental history, several x-rays, and complete a comprehensive oral examination. Afterwards, you’ll discover your oral condition, find out if you’re eligible for dental implants, and arrive at a conclusion for the best kind of treatment available to you.
The value of your bones
Bone structure is a critical aspect determining your eligibility for receiving implants. The condition of your oral bones as well as their thickness will ultimately determine just what kind of implant you receive and whether or not you will require a bone graft. Implants come in a wide variety of lengths and widths and likewise can be customized to fit your personal needs, although in some cases your doctor will recommend having a bone graft procedure done in order to make sure that the implant you’re eligible for fits into your jawbone in a structurally sound manner.
For those patients whose jawbones are inadequate in height or width for a regular implant, bone grafting can be done to build up the bone before the implant is placed. Although there are at least four different methods utilized for this procedure, they all share in common the surgical attachment of a bone or bone-like structure to a location that is in need of it. Most likely, your dentist will recommend to you an autograft which is where bone is taken from a portion of your body and then placed into your jaw to stimulate the regeneration of bone at that area.
The surgical process
Typically, the entire process for getting an implant is done in your dentist office, although more advanced procedures are taken to a surgical room. Your dentist begins by placing you under local anesthesia in order to dull the nerves in your mouth. He or she then proceeds to expose the bone at the site where the implant is being placed. Your dentist will drill a small hole into the bone, then screw an implant into the newly formed hole. Utilizing the more common type of implant, known as an endosteal implant, your dentist will then install the rods into the location where your new teeth will eventually be placed.
Once the dental implant is installed, a cover screw is placed inside of it and then the wound is sutured and allowed to heal. Typically speaking, implants in the lower jaw require about three months to heal while implants in the upper jaw will usually take up to around six months. After this time you will return to the dentist to have the location undergo a second surgical procedure wherein the implant is uncovered, the cover screw is removed and a post is attached to the implant, the function of which is to become the support for an artificial tooth or set of teeth. This is a relatively short procedure and will require only local anesthesia for your relaxation.
Finally, after all is said and done, the dentist will take impressions of the implant area and then construct the prosthetic tooth or teeth that are to be attached to the implant. This process will require several trips to the dentist so that he or she can evaluate the best solution for giving you a natural looking set of durable artificial teeth. With patience and determination, you can see yourself with that beautiful smile you’ve always wanted!