Dental implants can greatly improve your cosmetic appearance and dental health, but the procedure does require a minor oral surgery to complete. There are many things that you can do to prepare yourself and make it a success. Here are some things you can expect when getting dental implants.
Before the Implants
Before you get implants, your dentist should do a comprehensive oral exam. They will assess the condition of your teeth, and very importantly, the health of your jawbone under the tooth gap. The dentist will take measurements of your teeth and gums so that the porcelain prosthetics can be made, often offsite. Then, you may wait a few weeks for the prosthetics to be made before you begin the multi-step process of implant surgery. Your dentist may also prescribe you some antibiotics to take a few days before you arrive for oral surgery.
Phases of Implant Surgery
The first phase of placing the implant involves putting a metal post into your jawbone. This will act as a base that your dentist will use to screw on the prosthetic tooth. You can expect for this post to be covered up and allowed to heal for several weeks before you come back to continue the procedure. On your next visit, the dentist will follow up by placing the crown onto the base after checking to make sure the post has healed in place correctly. Overall, the process shouldn't be too painful; your dentist should administer a local anesthetic to the tooth so that you won't feel the placement process.
After the Implant Is Placed
Once your new implant has been placed, it will take some time for the surgery site to fully heal. Your dentist will likely want to follow up on the healing process to make sure that you aren't developing any kind of infection. It will also take time for the titanium in your dental implant to fully integrate with your jawbone to create a strong, lasting connection. Although the process can take quite a while, it's designed to move slowly to ensure that the new implant is stable, healthy, and built to last.
Once the Implant Has Healed
Once your dental implant is fully healed, you'll have to do a bit of care to keep it healthy. For instance, continue to floss around the implant and brush regularly once the implant has become stable. Your new implant can become a very integrated part of your mouth that is resistant to stains and cavities, making it worth the long wait.
For more information, contact a local oral surgery clinic like Oral And Maxillofacial Surgical Associates.
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