Understanding The Dental Implant Procedure
Tuesday, April 29th, 2008Talking to Your Dentist
Before getting the implants, you should have your dentist thoroughly check your dental condition. This may also involve an assessment of your overall health condition, medical history and any medications you are currently under. This initial examination is a key step to determine whether you are suitable for taking implants.
Aside from determining your fitness, knowing your dental and health conditions will allow your dentist to determine the right procedure and approach for you. There are different forms of implants depending on a patient’s jaw condition. Some may also require bone grafting or antibiotics before implantation.
Inserting the Implants
The first step in the implantation procedure is the placement of the implant itself. This is usually made of titanium. This is the material of choice because the human jawbone often merges well with it. Take note though that some implants are eventually rejected.
Patients with insufficient jawbone will have to undertake bone grafting before they can take implants. For others with enough sturdy jawbones, the procedure can start off right away. When the anesthesia begins to take effect, your gum is opened and jawbone is drilled. After the implant is inserted, the gum opening will be stitched.
Healing
What you may not realise is that you can only go for the next step after a couple of months. During this waiting period, your bone will grow around and merge well with the implant. For some patients, this healing period may take half a year at the most.
Placement of the Post
After your jawbone fully heals around the implant, a post will be attached in order to hold the crown or artificial tooth. The dentist will make another opening in your gum and then attach the post to the implant. After that, you will be asked to rest for another couple of weeks so that your gum will heal around the post.
Placing the Crown
After the gums have healed, your dentist will take impressions of your teeth so he can make the right crown for the missing tooth or teeth. These specially made pieces are made to have the same color and appearance as your natural teeth. The crown is attached to the post.
The dental implant procedure is a straightforward one to most patients. What most people do not realise is that it could take as long as eight months to finalise the whole process. Whatever you feel about it, it is always important to find an experienced dentist to do the job for you. With an expert, the success of your implantation is more assured.
If you are considering getting implantation, make sure you visit our site to learn more about dental implant procedure. You may also gain a lot by visiting our entire online dental guide if you have another area of dental concern.