Dentist Implants 101: All You Need to Know
A range of options is available that can replace your missing teeth and restore your dental integrity, such as bridges. However, if you are looking for that natural-looking and permanent dental solution, dental implants offer the perfect solution.
Before you visit a dentist near you for dental implants, here is what you need to know.
What are Dental Implants?
Teeth implants are metal screws fixed on the jaw to anchor the artificial teeth. These implants are available in different types. Our Glendale dentist will choose a suitable option based on your dental condition and the number of teeth missing.
- Endosteal implants. These are the commonly used implants, and they are used when you have sufficient jaw bone to support the implants.
- Subperiosteal implants. They are similar to the endosteal but are fixed below the gums, but above the jaw. The dentist uses a metal framework to support the implants. These implants are ideal if you lack the recommended bone density.
- All-on-4 implants. These implants are used when you have multiple teeth missing on the upper and lower jaw. The dentist will fix two implants on the upper and lower jaw to offer support for the dentures.
Who Can Get Dental Implants?
Dental implants are not for everyone. You need to meet the eligibility criteria for our dentist in Glendale to recommend them.
- Your jaw has attained full maturity, which happens from age 17.
- You have sufficient bone support to anchor the implants.
- Healthy teeth and gums that are free of infection and decay.
- You don’t have any preexisting dental or health conditions that may interfere with the implant procedure.
- You have a healthy lifestyle. For example, you don’t smoke, because smoking can impair the gum healing process.
How Long Does the Procedure Take?
A dental implant procedure takes a few dental visits that are spread across several months. The surgery is done in stages.
- Dental examination and planning
- Fixing the implants
- Osseointegration
- Placing the abutment
- Fixing the dental crowns
Our dentist in Glendale, AZ, will first do a comprehensive dental assessment to check if you are eligible for the implants. In this stage, we may involve other dental specialists like an oral surgeon. The dentist will also examine medical and drug history and then plan the surgery.
If you have sufficient bone density, the dentist will proceed to stage two of fixing the implants. However, for those with low bone support, a bone graft may be recommended. This is a procedure done to stimulate new bone growth. The dentist will take bone granules from your hip or other sources and fix them in the affected area. It can take several months for the new bone to grow and be ready for the implants.
The dentist will first numb the gums to ease the discomfort. Next, he will open the gums to access the jaw and drill a hole fixing the implants. The gums are stitched to facilitate healing. The dentist may use a temporary denture to cover the affected area.
This is when the bone and implant fuse and create strong support. The implant and bone must combine for the procedure to be successful. If they don’t successfully fuse, the body may end up rejecting the implants, and the treatment will fail.
After a successful osseointegration process, the dentist will make an incision on the gums and place the abutment. This connects the implant and the artificial tooth. A dental impression of your teeth is taken to the lab to create the crowns.
You can choose between removable and fixed dental crowns. For the fixed crowns, the dentist will either screw or cement the implants in place.
A follow-up dental appointment is scheduled to check the implants and the gums.
What to Expect After the Implants Are Fixed?
As the anesthesia begins to wear out, you will experience soreness, pain, and bleeding. These problems tend to clear after sometime, but the dentist will give you pain-relieving medication and antibiotics.
Schedule an Appointment
Visit Dobra Dental for more information on dental implants and how they can benefit you.