The Dental Implant Procedure: What to Expect

Missing teeth can make several changes to your daily life. Other than making you self-conscious, they also misalign your bite and alter the shape of your face. The best remedy for this is replacing the missing teeth with artificial ones. Artificial teeth attach to the jawbone with the help of dental implants that involve making artificial roots.

Dental implant surgery follows several steps, which include:
 

• Evaluation
   

• Putting the implant
   

• Osseointegration
   

• Placing the abutment
   

• Tooth or teeth placement
   

Evaluation

Evaluation is the first step in the procedure. It involves the assessment of your teeth, jawbone, and gums. The surgeon will determine if you have enough healthy jawbone to hold the implant. If you have an unsuitable jawbone, you may require additional procedures.

One ideal procedure, in this case, is a bone graft. The goal of the procedure is to restore one or more missing teeth. These factors also dictate the scope and type of procedure to expect. Your doctor may opt for either IV sedation, local, or general anesthesia for the surgery.

Putting the Implant

There are two types of dental implants, endosteal and subperiosteal. An endosteal procedure begins with a surgical cut on your gum to expose the jawbone. Next, they will drill holes into the jawbone for attaching the metal dental implant post later.

The post serves as the root for the potential tooth. The implant post sits deep in your jawbone, unlike the subperiosteal implant. To finish, the surgeon places a healing cap over the implant. The cap protects the implant and prevents the gum tissue from stretching over it.

Osseointegration

Osseointegration is the period of healing and bone growth after the dental procedure. The period of osseointegration lasts between two to six months. It takes this long since the jawbone needs to grow and strengthen around the dental implant post. The growth firmly holds the implant post, enabling it to function as the root for the artificial tooth.

Placing the Abutment

Abutments help connect the artificial tooth to the implant post. It is a minor surgery that takes place after the successful osseointegration. The surgeon starts by removing the healing cap around the implant post.

They will then screw the abutment onto the implant. The gum tissue spreads around the abutment, though not covering it. Healing from this step in the procedure takes approximately two weeks.

Teeth Selection and Placement

After healing, the surgeon will make a dental impression on your mouth. It helps dentists mold your crown or replacement teeth. The prosthetic teeth can either be removable or permanent. In removable artificial teeth, the dentist mounts them onto a metal frame. They combine this with the abutment that snaps firmly into place. These prosthetic teeth are easily removable for daily cleaning and repair.

Permanent artificial teeth are not removable for daily cleaning or repair. They anchor them permanently onto a single abutment.

Dental implant surgeries do not go without some discomfort. Expect some bleeding and pain around the site of the implant. Your diet will have to change for some time after the surgery. Soft foods are good as they allow the surgical site to heal.

For more on the dental implant procedure, visit Hamlin Modern Dentistry at our office in Winter Garden, Florida. You can also call (407) 993-6370 to book an appointment today.