You’ve thought about getting dental implants for months and are now ready for brand-new teeth. Now what? First, dental implants require surgery and aftercare that you’ll need to plan for. Although modern dental implant surgery is quick and almost painless, understanding all aspects of the procedure beforehand helps dampen false expectations.
What is Dental Implant Surgery?
Dental Implant Surgery replaces decaying and missing teeth with permanent artificial teeth. The medical and dental technology needed for dental implant surgery isn’t new. Thousands of years ago, the Chinese carved bamboo posts to insert into the sockets left after removing teeth, roots, and all. They understood that taking out decaying teeth also removed their connections to the nerves that cause pain. The Egyptians took this further and used precious metal teeth to put directly into empty sockets.
Jumping to modern times, the first dental implant with modern technology took place in 1965. However, the last two decades saw significant technological advances that made dental implants a viable option for millions of people. This technology isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, so it’s important that prospective patients investigate all aspects before the first appointment.
Initial Consultation
Dental Implant surgery starts with choosing a reputable professional you feel comfortable with. At the initial consultation, you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and get a feel for the clinic or dentist’s office where you’ll get your new teeth. Remember that dental implant surgery consultation explores your comfort level first, not efficiency or cost savings.
The initial consultation should be comprehensive and address all aspects of your dental implant surgery. In addition to standard x-rays and dental impressions, the consultation should discuss your specific jaw condition. Unfortunately, dental implant surgery cannot solve all teeth and jaw issues. Your initial consultation will definitively determine your eligibility for dental implants. If you have these medical conditions, you may not be a candidate for dental implants:
- Gum diseases like gingivitis break down bone and tissue, making it difficult to fuse bone with the implant surgery posts.
- Bruxism is an unconscious condition where patients clench down and grind their teeth. Natural teeth can take the pressure. However, dental implants don’t have nerves that stop bruxism before it breaks teeth. Patients with bruxism could potentially break their jaws.
- Generally poor hygiene and low immune system response don’t promote a good connection between the jawbone and the inserted titanium screw.
If the initial consultation determines you’d be a good fit for dental implants, your dentist might need additional procedures, such as bone grafting, to prepare your mouth for new teeth. If you get to this point, research shows you have a 98% chance of dental implant success. Of course. Other factors will be discussed, like how many new teeth you’ll need.
Teeth Extraction
Removal of old and damaged teeth is a main part of dental implant surgery. The exact number of teeth removed depends on the individual. Some patients need one or two implants, while others might opt for other options, like a full set of new teeth. Sometimes, you may need a course of antibiotics to eliminate any infection. Generally, dentists don’t pull infected teeth, so the infection must be gone before dental implant surgery.
In most cases, the implant procedure takes place after tooth extraction. If there is any reason to wait to start the implant procedure after extraction, you’ll need to avoid smoking, excessive spitting, and blowing your nose. These things can dislodge scar tissue and cause a dry socket where the nerve is exposed to air and food inside your mouth.
Dental Implant Screw Insertion
If you require bone grafting to strengthen your jawbone after extraction, you’ll likely require some healing before the screws go into your jawbone. Again, take care not to get dry sockets because the pain can be excruciating and might prolong the procedure. Once inserted into the empty socket, the jawbone’s natural healing ability starts fusing with the screws. It takes about six to nine months to fuse bone to a titanium screw fully.
Abutment
An abutment is a fancy word for the material that connects the crown to the inserted titanium screw. Once the screw is firmly inserted into the jawbone and the dentist believes it’s secure, they start tightening abutments to the screw. This is a crucial step because your new smile starts emerging once crowns get attached to the abutments. This step also permanently sets the amount of pressure the new implant can take before breaking your jaw. As you learn to use your new implant, you’ll develop a feel for how much pressure you can bite down before causing damage.
Crown Your New Smile
With secure abutments and screws, your dentist will begin placing the crowns on the abutments. They use permanent cement for those implants that never come off. This is common when the patient needs a single implant and crown. But what if you have multiple implants or need a full set of new permanent teeth to replace dentures?
Post and Snap Connected Implant Dentures
Some patients need full sets of new teeth. The traditional treatment is a full set of dentures that sit on top of the gums. Dental Implant dentures offer a more comfortable and useful option that replaces full dentures. This requires inserting two or more abutments and screws permanently affixed to the jawbone. The dentures snap onto the posts for dentures that feel close to the real thing but need regular removal for a full cleaning.
Post Care
After you finish your dental implant surgery, you’ll need some recovery time. Have soft foods on hand to avoid heavy chewing. The dental implant process usually takes several visits, and you won’t have teeth between the abutment and crown placement, so you’ll need to have viable options. Your dentist can discuss this as well as detailed aftercare instructions. Contact us to schedule a dental implant consultation.