Dental implant surgery is a process that involves replacing missing teeth with artificial prosthetics. The procedure may vary depending on the patient’s specific case. Here is what to expect for the tooth extraction and implant timeline. Keep reading to learn the implant process and aftercare.
Initial Appointment
An initial assessment will determine if an implant is an ideal treatment for your case. An implant specialist will conduct oral exams and review your medical history. The pre-procedure treatment is essential if the tests detect tooth decay or gum disease.
The patient’s gums must have adequate volume and width to support the implant. The dentist may suggest bone grafting before the procedure. The initial data will inform the treatment plan for your specific case.
Prerequisite Treatments
Besides bone grafting, your provider may recommend other procedures before affixing dental implants. Some cases may require tooth extraction, depending on the dental structure. For example, if you have an impacted tooth, it must be extracted before starting the procedure.
The severity of your condition will determine the timeline of the prerequisite dental implant stages. It may take longer if you need extensive bone grafting and multiple tooth extraction. Generally, the patients may require four to twelve months of timeline for the gums and jawbone to heal.
Implant Post Placement
After healing, you’ll return to your implant specialist for post-placement. The procedure involves making an incision on your gums to expose the jawbone. A hole is drilled to affix the implant to the jawbone.
Implant post placement procedure takes approximately an hour, and a cap is placed over the post. The dental implant cap will require about four months to heal.
Abutment Placement Procedure
The abutment is placed over the post after the healing period. It is necessary to screw the abutment separately, so it does not protrude during the dental implant healing stage. The abutment eliminates the need for additional surgeries. A dentist will not have to use gum tissue to cover the gums.
The process only requires the removal of the healing cap to allow for abutment placement. It usually takes two weeks of recovery before starting the subsequent dental implant stages. Healthy diet is recommended after implant surgery.
Crafting Your Prosthesis(Crowns/Dentures)
After your gums have fully healed, your dental specialist will take additional impressions of your mouth and remaining teeth to create the crown, serving as your realistic-looking artificial tooth. However, the crown can only be placed once your jawbone is strong enough to support it.
When it comes to choosing artificial teeth for dental implants, you and your dental specialist can opt for removable, fixed, or a combination of both
Removable artificial teeth resemble a conventional denture and can be either partial or full. They feature artificial white teeth surrounded by pink plastic gum and are mounted on a metal frame attached to the implant abutment. The removable denture snaps securely into place and can be easily removed for repair or daily cleaning.
Fixed artificial teeth feature an artificial tooth permanently screwed or cemented onto an individual implant abutment. The tooth cannot be removed for cleaning or during sleep. In most cases, each crown is attached to its dental implant. However, if several teeth need to be replaced, they can be bridged together and supported by a single implant, thanks to the exceptional strength of implants.
Dental Implant Aftercare
Dental implants are a great option to restore your smile, but it’s important to properly care for them after the procedure to ensure long-lasting results. Here are some tips for post-operative care to help you recover quickly and protect your investment:
- Bleeding: You may experience some bleeding after the surgery. To minimize bleeding, bite down firmly on the gauze pads provided by your dentist. If the bleeding persists, you can use a dampened tea bag to apply gentle pressure to the area.
- Pain and swelling: You may experience some discomfort and swelling after the surgery, but this is normal. have over-the-counter pain relievers as directed by your dentist to manage pain. You can also use a cold compress on reduce swelling to relieve pain.
- Dental hygiene: Maintaining good oral hygiene after dental implant surgery is important. Brush your teeth gently with a soft-bristled brush, and avoid brushing the surgical site for the first few days. It would help if you rinsed your mouth with warm salt water to keep the area clean.
- Avoid hard and crunchy foods: Stay away from hard and crunchy foods like Apples and Carrots for the first few days after the implant surgery to allow the area to heal properly. Soft foods like oatmeal, soup, and mashed potatoes are best.
- Follow-up appointments: Your dentist will schedule follow-up appointments to monitor your progress and check on the healing process. It’s important to attend these appointments and to follow your dentist’s instructions carefully.
Overall, taking care of your dental implants after surgery is essential for a successful outcome. By following these aftercare tips, you can ensure that your implants last for many years.
Visit View Mobile Dental if you are in search of implant specialist in Dublin, CA, they are offering general, cosmetic and restorative dentistry as well as Teledentistry.