Missing teeth can seriously impact your oral health. When there’s available space, your surrounding teeth will shift towards it, affecting the alignment of your bite. Moreover, tooth loss may lead to jawbone density loss. To prevent this issue, looking for the best dental implants near me is key.
Dental implants work as a natural tooth, with an artificial root and a customized dental crown to blend seamlessly with your smile. Here’s everything you need to know about this treatment.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are durable and stable dental restorations that help restore missing teeth and complete your smile. Missing teeth are more than an aesthetic concern: they affect how you eat and speak, impacting your quality of life.
Unlike other restorative options like bridges and dentures, implants use a titanium post inserted into the jawbone to provide unparalleled stability. For this reason, they’re long-lasting, accompanying you your entire life with the proper care, and they allow you to enjoy all your favorite foods without worrying.
What Is the Process for Getting Dental Implants?
Dental implants are a unique dental restoration. By inserting a titanium post into your jawbone, they offer a stable and durable foundation for a natural-looking tooth for years to come. However, this is also the reason why the implant placement surgery can be a long and intricate process:
Step 1: Initial Consultation and Evaluation
Before undergoing dental implant surgery, a dentist or oral surgeon will thoroughly assess your oral health because enjoying good oral health is a must. This means no infections like gum disease or cavities. Additionally, a lack of sufficient bone density will lead to implant failure, so a gum graft may be necessary.
Therefore, your dentist will perform a comprehensive dental exam. This includes X-rays, 3D imaging, and impressions to assess bone density and determine the implant site. They will also review your medical history. Conditions like diabetes or smoking habits may affect healing, requiring extra steps.
Step 2: Tooth Extraction (If Needed)
If the damaged or failing tooth is still in place, it will need to be extracted. Depending on the case, the implant can be placed immediately or after a healing period.
Step 3: Bone Grafting
A bone graft may be performed for patients with insufficient jawbone structure to strengthen the implant site. A bone graft is a surgical procedure used to rebuild or help rebuild the jawbone when there is insufficient bone density to support a dental implant.
It helps create a stable foundation for the implant, ensuring successful integration and long-term durability. However, healing from a bone graft can take several months before implant placement, increasing the duration of your treatment.
Step 4: Implant Placement Surgery
Once we assess your mouth's health, we will schedule a date for the implant placement surgery. During the surgery, the oral surgeon makes a small incision in the gum and drills a hole in the jawbone. Then, a titanium implant post (which acts as the artificial tooth root) is inserted into the bone. The gum is stitched closed, and a healing period begins.
It typically takes 3 to 6 months for the implant to integrate with the bone through a process called osseointegration.
Step 5: Abutment Placement
Once the implant fuses with the bone, an abutment (a small connector piece) is attached. This requires a minor surgical procedure to expose the implant and place the abutment.
It takes around 2 weeks for the gums to heal before the final crown placement.
Step 6: Placement of the Permanent Crown
After the gum tissue heals, a custom-made dental crown (artificial tooth) is designed to match the natural teeth. The crown is then attached to the abutment, and any necessary minor changes are performed to complete the process.
Aftercare Tips for Dental Implants to Ensure a Healthy Recovery
Dental implants are a long-term and efficient way to replace lost teeth. However, proper aftercare is fundamental to ensure their longevity and avoid infections. Your dentist will provide detailed post-operative instructions, but here are some tips to help you minimize discomfort and speed up recovery.
1. Manage Discomfort and Swelling
Swelling and pain can be common after a dental implant surgery. We’ll prescribe pain medication (over-the-counter may also be fine) and antibiotics to manage the discomfort. You must take them as directed, especially the antibiotics, as they help prevent an infection in the implant site.
For the first 24 to 48 hours, you can apply an ice pack to the outside of your face at 15-minute intervals to help reduce swelling. Additionally, keep your head elevated while sleeping.
2. Follow a Soft Diet
Limit your diet to soft, nourishing foods for the first few days following implant surgery to prevent applying pressure to the implant site. We recommend foods such as:
- Smoothies, mashed potatoes, and yogurt
- Oatmeal, soups, and scrambled eggs
- Soft fruits, such as applesauce and bananas
- Steer clear of crunchy, sticky, or hard foods that might irritate the implant site.
3. Maintain Oral Hygiene Carefully
Keeping your mouth clean after implant placement is crucial to fostering healing and preventing infections. However, you must be gentle when cleaning around the surgical site, or you could dislodge the blood clot, impacting your recovery.
For the first 24 hours after surgery, avoid brushing around the area. After that time, use only a soft-bristled toothbrush and be gentle around the implant. We also recommend using an antibacterial mouthwash or a saline solution to rinse to maintain cleanliness.
And don’t forget to floss! Thread carefully around the adjacent teeth, avoiding the implant site initially.
4. Be Aware of Signs of Complications
Keep a close eye on your healing process and look for any indications of infection or implant failure, like:
- Pain and swelling that does not go away
- Pus or fluid surrounding the implant site
- Shifting or loose implants
- Chills or fever
Contact your dentist immediately if you experience any of these symptoms.
5. Attend Follow-Up Appointments
Regular dental check-ups are crucial to ensure the implant integrates properly with your jawbone. Attend all scheduled appointments to track your healing progress.
By following these aftercare tips, you can ensure a smooth recovery and enjoy the benefits of your dental implants for years to come.
Search for the Best Dental Implants Near Me and Restore Your Smile
Dental implants are a long-lasting solution for missing teeth, offering functional and aesthetic benefits. The process typically involves multiple stages, spread over several months, to ensure the implant integrates properly with the jawbone.
However, the wait will be worth it, as you will get a durable restoration and protect your bone health for years to come. If you want to learn more about this treatment, contact Mirror Lake today!
