An Important Guide on a Dental Implant Procedure

According to the National Center for Health Statistics 2011-2012, more than 36 million Americans are toothless, and 120 million are missing at least one tooth. The figures are expected to rise over the following two decades. These statistics show the increasing demand for the dental implant procedure.

Unfortunately, tooth loss occurs due to many reasons, including gum disease, tooth decay, cavities, injuries, and so on. However, you don’t need to be anxious about this anymore, as you can now replace your lost tooth with dental implant surgery. This is the most effective and efficient method of tooth replacement, with a 98% success rate.

Let’s take a detailed note of an important guide to dental implants procedure.

Dental Implant Procedure Step-by-Step Guide

A dental implant is an invasive procedure that dentists perform in segments. Before thinking about having an implant, it is essential to know that an implant is not recommended for everyone due to specific reasons. That is why it is important to go through the complete guide that I have mentioned below. Let’s get started!

1. Initial Consultation

If you are planning to get dental implant surgery, consult with a knowledgeable dental specialist. They will thoroughly guide you through the following steps you have to take before initiating the implant process. Furthermore, dental specialists use CT scans and X-rays to completely analyze your jaw bone of the needed implant site and determine whether you are a fit for an implant.

2. Evaluation Of Oral Health

Initially, your dental surgeon will thoroughly examine your overall oral health. For this reason, he may require your past medical record. They will review your previously taken oral health sessions, their medical history, and all other related reports. That is why it is necessary to keep all the previous records of your dental checkup and treatments.

Your dentists will tell you if you are capable of having a dental implant or not by thoroughly examining your current oral health. This is because of the requirement for healthy bone material for the placement of implants. If it is not able to carry the implant, dentists may provide other solutions, such as bone grafting.

3. Bone Grafting

Your dentists may recommend bone grafting for jawbone restoration to make it able for implant placement. It is entirely a separate procedure that you may undergo several weeks or months before the implant placement.

In this procedure, dentists fill a special bone grafting material on the site where you need a tooth implant. This material stimulates bone growth to prepare it for the implant process. In most cases, oral surgeons use a synthetic bone grafting compound.

4. Placement Of Implant

Dentists initiate the procedure by giving specific anesthesia to make you feel comfortable with the procedure. This anesthesia inactivates the nerve signals in your body and brain, so you don’t feel pain during the whole procedure. You can also come up with several questions.

• What is the dental implant procedure timeline?

The dental implant process might take 7 months for the upper jaw and 3 to 6 months for the lower jaw. This entire procedure can extend up to 5 to 8 months.

• What is the procedure for dental implants?

At the start of the procedure, dental surgeons make an incision in the gums to access the bones where the implant will be placed. Following that, they will drill a hole in your jawbone and surgically place the implant metal post, which will serve as the root of the missing tooth.

• How long does a dental implant procedure take?

A single-tooth implant procedure takes up to 1 to 2 hours. After this, dentists wait for almost 3 months for the final restoration of the dental replacement.

5. Recovery Process

The recovery process begins right after the placement of the implant. You may experience some discomfort during the initial recovery days. In most cases, dentists recommend healing the implant for several months before crown placement. Dental experts prescribe some medications to reduce pain and discomfort. You may have to go for checkups from time to time until the completion of the process.

6. Crown & Abutment Placement

Once you are done with the recovery process, your dentist will place the crown and abutment on top of the implant. This placement will give your implant a similar tooth shape and improve its appearance. This process takes approximately an hour to complete.

7. Risks Involved

It is less likely to experience risks during tooth implant procedures. However, there are some things that you need to keep in mind for the implant process. You may get minor infections at the implant site, such as swollen gums, pus, loose teeth, or gaps between your teeth.

You may also experience bad breath after the implant procedure. Moreover, the upper jaw tooth implant may result in sinus complications. It rarely happens, but in case you experience any such issue, go to your dentist.