Who doesn’t want a lovely smile? A missing tooth diverts attention from the appearance of your smile and makes you lose confidence. Dental implants provide a strong foundation for your gums to support an artificial tooth. They look like natural teeth and are more long-lasting than other removable options. It is best to get your dental implants from someone who specializes in this procedure. There are several points to consider before making such a decision. We will discuss those in detail in this article.
When Do You Need Dental Implants?
The dentist will try to preserve your natural teeth as much as possible. However, there are some situations where getting implants will be necessary.
- Missing tooth
- Infected tooth/ Cavities
- Damaged/ cracked tooth
- Gum abscess
- Don’t want dentures
Right Age For Replacing Missing Teeth
A fully develop jaw is essential for getting implants. In the adolescent years, the jaw is underdeveloped. Getting implants at this age may cause damage to the jaw. Late teens and young adults are eligible to get implants. This procedure has no upper age limit. Bone loss will gradually occur if you do not get dental implants, which may lead to jaw problems and worsen your dental issues.
What Is The Process Of Getting Dental Implants?
The steps for a dental implant procedure are as follows:
First Consultation:
The dentist examines your mouth and teeth in the first consultation. Then, they take in an x-ray and digital pictures of your mouth. A dental impression made of alginate helps customize the implants. It is essential to make dental implants as close to natural teeth as possible.
Bone Graft:
Chewing puts a lot of pressure on your jaws. If your jaw is not thick enough, you might need bone graft surgery. This procedure helps to strengthen your jaw and enable it to support dental implants. Bone grafting takes bones from other parts of your body, or a synthetic bone, and attaches them to your jaw. It takes 4-12 months for your jaws to be ready for implants after getting this procedure. Bone grafting is an optional procedure, that you won’t need if your jaw is strong enough.
Dental Implants Placement:
Your dentists will first numb the area using local anesthesia. Once the drug works, it will make a small incision in your gums. Titanium posts are placed into the hole. This procedure takes 1-2 hours.
Placing A Temporary Crown:
A temporary crown is placed on the implant’s head. It helps guide the gum tissue to heal and keeps them away from the implant.
Placing The Abutment:
An abutment helps to screw the implant to support the crown. An oral surgeon reopens the gum, to make way for the implant. Your gums need to heal for another 2 weeks after placing the abutment.
Placing The Permanent Crown:
A dental crown is the tooth-looking part of your implant that is screwed or cemented into place. A dental crown can be removable or fixed. A removable crown is made of plastic and is removed daily for cleaning. A fixed height is made of a variety of materials like porcelain, resin, metal, etc. It looks like your natural tooth and is much stronger than removable dental crowns.
What Happens After Getting A Dental implant?
It is normal to experience discomfort after getting your dental implant surgery. You might feel the following symptoms:
- Swelling and bruising of gums & face
- Pain at the implant location.
- Minor bleeding
Maintaining good oral hygiene becomes essential at this stage. Keeping your mouth and teeth clean helps ensure bacteria is not built up in the operation area. This reduces the chances of infection that might lead to further problems. Patients are advised to avoid eating hard, chewy and sticky food too. These types of food can cause harm to the new implants. Drinking and smoking are supposed to be avoided too.
Why Choose Us: BA Dentist
Getting dental implants is an expensive procedure. We at BA Dentist provide the most affordable dental implants in Broken Arrow without compromising the quality of our service. Contact us and book your appointment now!
