If you want to replace damaged teeth with a beautiful and natural-looking smile, dental implants are your answer. The first step is understanding our services and what to expect.
Preparing For Dental Implants
The process starts with removing damaged teeth. Next, your jawbone must be prepared for surgery. You may or may not need bone grafting. Some reasons why you might need bone grafting include:
- Your bone tissue has deteriorated over time;
- Your jawbone is too soft; or
- Your jawbone is not thick enough to support an implant.
With bone grafting, we use pieces of stronger bone from a different area of your jaw or body. The pieces fuse to the problematic jawbone area to make it thicker and denser. Bone tissue in your jaw has to be strong enough to support the force of biting and chewing. If there’s severe deterioration in your jawbone, it may take several extra months for you to fully heal. Most people only need minor grafting, if any, which yields a faster healing process. We may perform minor grafting at the same time as your implant surgery.
Getting Dental Implants
When the time for surgery arrives, your surgeon will access the bone tissue in your jaw and create holes for the implant roots. If you are receiving a single implant or several implants between natural teeth, there will be individual holes for each one. For a full bottom or top set of teeth, the surgeon places about four roots per set. Once they are placed, the process of osseointegration starts. This means that your jawbone grows into the surface of the implant for improved strength. Osseointegration takes several months.
The crown-like part of the implant that the tooth will attach to is called the “abutment.” Your abutments may be attached either when the roots are implanted or at a later time. The surgeon attaches a denture-like piece, or “fused abutments,” to replace a full set of teeth or partial set of teeth in a row. A single abutment can also be attached once the root is ready. The gum tissue naturally closes around the abutment but doesn’t cover it.
In many cases, the prosthetic piece is attached to the abutment a few weeks after the abutment is placed. This gives your gums the necessary time they need to properly heal. During your consultation, we will discuss fixed and removable prostheses. If you prefer the feel of a natural tooth, a fixed prosthesis is better. However, if you have a limited budget, a removable prosthesis may be a better choice.
After Dental Implants: What To Expect
After your initial surgery, we encourage rest. Your surgeon will provide you with personalized instructions for addressing possible swelling, changing gauze, eating, and keeping your mouth clean. We will show you how to use oral irrigators, floss, and other accessories for oral hygiene and implant care after your prosthesis is in place.
Why Choose Us?
We do everything possible to ensure your comfort throughout the entire process. We also understand that getting implants can be a difficult transition and a major decision, which is why we’re here to answer your questions and be your personal oral health advocates. These are some benefits of working with us:
- We have years of experience;
- We offer pricing plans that fit most budgets; and
- We provide a free initial consultation.
Contact us today to set up a consultation for dental implants, and let us put a smile back on your face!