Replace Missing Teeth with Dental Implants

More people are considering dental implants as solutions for tooth loss. These restorations are the most stable ones that you can get. Understanding the process can help you prepare for your scheduled procedure. Here are the details about getting dental implants for your dental replacements.

The process

Getting dental implants will need a long period of healing. The process may take longer if the patient has significant bone loss. A bone graft surgery would place healthy bone in the thinning section of the jawbone. This would encourage the growth of new bone. Its result would be a thicker jawbone, which is ideal for supporting dental implants.

The dentist will then cut into the gum tissue and drill implant holes. Placing the titanium posts into the holes will follow. Then, stitching the gum tissue over the posts will encourage healing and osseointegration with the jawbone. The dentist will attach the abutment. After two more weeks of healing, the dentist will attach the bridge, dentures, or artificial crowns.

The process of dental implants can take about a year or more, especially if the patient has a bone graft. The healing will take about five to eight months, depending on how well the patient heals. Follow the aftercare instructions that the dentist provides. This will help make the recovery easier.

What happens after the procedure

Clinical studies show that it is easy to care for dental implants after the procedure. The patient will have to eat soft foods for a while. Eventually, the patient can eat anything without causing pain or damaging the restorations. Brushing the area will be like brushing natural teeth. The dentist will tell the patient when regular brushing can start.

The benefits

Dental implants are durable restorations. Over time, the patient will be able to adapt to the sensation of a foreign object in the mouth. The patient would then be able to speak, eat, and smile well. Here are the benefits of getting these restorations:

• It provides natural speech. Pronouncing words becomes easier. The stability of dental implants allows the patient to speak in a natural way.
• It supports neighboring teeth. These restorations fill the dental gaps after tooth loss. This will prevent dental shifting and loosening.
• These restorations are easy to care for. Cleaning dental implants is like cleaning natural teeth. One does not need to get extra teeth-cleaning tools like cleansing tablets. Wearing a nightguard while sleeping can protect the dental implants if the patient has bruxism.
• It can prevent changes to the facial structure. Dental implants support the facial structures by preventing jawbone loss. The presence of these restorations prevents that sunken appearance.
• These restorations do not wiggle or slip out. Successful osseointegration with the jawbone and gum tissues provides a stable foundation for dental implants. The patient will not experience wiggling or slipping artificial teeth while performing dental functions.
• It is a permanent tooth loss solution. Dental implants are meant to replace teeth without any need for replacements or repairs.