Are you considering implants to restore your lost teeth and enhance your smile? Missing teeth can significantly affect your speaking and eating abilities and also hurt your self-esteem. Thankfully, modern dentistry offers various replacement options allowing you to restore your smile, the most popular and long-lasting one being dental implants. Dental implants are a long-lasting solution that does not need special care.
Dental implants offer advantages that other tooth replacement choices like dentures can’t match. Unlike dentures, they usually do not require replacement after a specific time and can last a lifetime if properly cared for.
If you’re considering dental implant surgery, the dental implant procedure is straightforward and has an excellent success rate.
What are dental implants?
A dental implant comprises three parts: the fixture, the abutment and the crown. The fixture resembles a screw and is composed of a biocompatible material (usually titanium) to allow for smooth integration with the jaw bone. The abutment is the “link” between the fixture and the crown, the artificial tooth that’s placed on top, which is also the only visible part of the whole structure.
How can I know if I am a good candidate for dental implants?
The simplest way to determine if you’re qualified for dental implants is to get a consultation at your local dental clinic. It is essential to go to a dentist that offers consultation appointments to assess your situation, as every case varies.
Fortunately, the majority of people are excellent candidates for dental implants. A good candidate would have fully developed jaws and healthy gums. Additionally, they should have adequate bone to hold the dental implants in place.
In fact, anyone with missing teeth should consider dental implants as a replacement solution.
What does the dental implant procedure involve?
Here is what the dental implant procedure involves.
1. Initial examination
Consultation is the first stage in the dental implant procedure. Your dentist will conduct a thorough analysis to determine the status of your jawbone and the suitable dental implant procedure. X-rays and matching your teeth’s colour to make your implant look natural are all part of the preliminary initial assessment.
2. Extracting the tooth
If your tooth is acutely infected or damaged, your dentist will extract it before performing the treatment. This can happen simultaneously with implant placement. Your dentist will go over the various options for local or general anaesthesia with you.
3. Inserting the dental implants
There are two methods of dental implant placement:
- The subperiosteal, in which the implant is placed just below the gum line, over the jaw bone, and
- The endosteal, in which the implant is placed inside the jaw bone.
Your dentist will examine if there is sufficient jaw bone to support your dental implant. If there isn’t, then you might need to have a bone graft procedure, in which bone tissue from another part of your jaw (autogenous), human tissue bank (allograft) or animal tissue bank (xenograft) will be used. You will need to wait for the bone to heal before you proceed to the next steps of the implant procedure.
Once the implant fixture is inserted into your jaw bone, it will stimulate it to grow; this is an added benefit of the dental implant process! After that, the implant becomes a part of your gum line. Depending on the patient, this process may take 3 to 9 months.
4. Placing the abutment
Your dentist will put an abutment on top of your dental implant after it is secure enough. This component connects the dental implant to your crown.
5. Placing the dental crown
Your dentist will design your prosthetic crown once your gums have recovered. Once attached, your crown will function and look like a natural tooth.
Don’t let missing teeth dampen your self-confidence! Get in touch with us today.
Who doesn’t want a better-looking smile while also having great oral health? Dental implants can help you maintain good dental health while enhancing the look of your smile.
We encourage and welcome you to schedule a free consultation at the Broadford Dental Clinic in your area if you want to know more about the dental implant procedure.
We want you to know that we use modern materials and the highest standards in our treatments. Most importantly, we strongly emphasise patient education throughout our consultations so that you can make knowledgeable decisions about your dental health.
Are you ready to set up a dental consultation near you? Call our dental clinic on (03) 5749 1208.
Disclaimer: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
References
Everything to Know About a Dental Implant Procedure
https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-oral-health/dental-implant-procedure#types-of-implants
Dental Implants
https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/dental-implants
