Dental implants are today's most advanced replacements for missing or damaged teeth. They are easy to care for, durable, and attractive. Patients who receive dental implants can expect many years of wear, with the implant post often lasting for decades.
Dental implant surgery may be intimidating at first glance, but it is generally a straightforward, routine procedure with a high success rate.
Am I a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?
Good candidates for dental implants need to have healthy gums. They have no untreated tooth decay or infections. They are healthy enough for oral surgery. They have enough jawbone mass to support an implant. However, if your jawbone mass is not dense enough, you can receive a bone graft, as detailed below.
If you have uncontrolled diabetes or cancer or smoke or drink alcohol to excess, you may need additional care before placing dental implants. Consult with your doctor and dentist to determine your eligibility.
Advantages of Dental Implants
Improve Your Oral Health
Getting dental implants improves your oral health by preserving your dental bite and chewing ability. Dental implants can replace damaged and missing teeth that interfere with oral hygiene.
Attractive Appearance
Unless you tell someone you have an implant, they might not distinguish it from a natural tooth. Implants can improve your smile and make you want to share it.
Less Jawbone Loss
Unlike conventional bridges and dentures, dental implants can replace the tooth's root and crown. Root replacement means that your jawbone will not deteriorate due to a lack of chewing stimulation.
Long-Term Value
While dental implant prices seem high at first glance, you will get more value for your investment. With implants, you will receive many more years of wear than you would get from a bridge or denture.
The Dental Implant Procedure
For single-tooth dental implants, the procedure is as follows. You may see some variations if you receive mini dental implants, full arch implant-supported dentures, or implant-supported bridges.
Consultation
The first step in our dental implant process is a consultation appointment. During the consultation, your dentist will perform imaging scans like X-rays to determine whether you have the necessary bone mass to place implants. Your dentist will also discuss your treatment goals and medical history.
You may need only one or two teeth replaced, in which case you would receive single-tooth dental implants. You can also opt for implant-supported bridges or dentures if you have more missing teeth. We also offer mini dental implants for certain situations where a standard single-tooth implant would not work.
If you lack sufficient jawbone mass to place an implant, you may need to receive a bone graft in preparation. Bone grafting is a simple surgery that involves placing ground, sterilized bone medium in your jawbone to encourage your natural bone to grow around it. If this step is necessary, it usually takes at least a few months for a bone graft to heal enough to place a dental implant.
Placing the Implants
After any bone grafts have healed, your dentist can place the implant post. You will receive sufficient local anesthesia to numb your gums and jaw area so that the procedure will be painless.
The post material is biocompatible titanium, a strong and lightweight, highly corrosion-resistant material. The post may last for many years and possibly a lifetime with proper care.
The dentist makes an incision to open the gum, exposing the bone. They drill an opening for the post. The post screws into the opening and bonds with the jawbone in osseointegration.
At this stage, the dentist typically secures the gum tissue over the surgery site with sutures in preparation for the next step.
Placing the Abutment
The post may take several months to fuse with the jawbone.
When the post's healing process is complete, the dentist opens the gum and places the stainless steel abutment where the crown will attach. The dentist closes the gum around the abutment but does not cover it. Typically, you will only need local anesthesia for this step. Another healing period of about two weeks follows.
Fitting the Final Restoration
Your dentist will take digital or physical impressions of your mouth to plan and shape the realistic crown that will top your implant. The dentist will attach the crown when the jawbone is strong enough to support it.
The crown on your dental implant should last several years but may need periodic replacement due to normal wear and tear. You can extend the crown's life if you treat it with care.
Recovery
After each step of the surgical process, you will require a healing period. As with any dental surgery, you may experience minor discomfort, bleeding, swelling, or bruising. You will receive pain medication and antibiotics when needed. You will need to eat soft foods between each stage to allow your gums to heal.
Maintaining At-Home Care
Single-tooth dental implants usually require no more care than healthy natural teeth: brush, floss, and use mouthwash as necessary. If you have a removable or fixed full arch denture or a bridge, you may need to take special care of your implants. Your dentist will teach you all you need to know about caring for your implant at home.
Avoid chewing hard objects like candy, ice, and pens and using your teeth as tools. You could break the crowns on your implants as well as your natural teeth.
Call Paramount Dental Arts
Dental implant surgery sounds complex, but most patients tolerate it well. You will enjoy the long-term benefits of dental implants as you smile, talk, and eat freely.
If you want to know more about the process of receiving dental implants, call our Clifton, NJ, office at 973-777-1772 for an appointment. We can schedule a consultation to begin your journey toward a fully functional, healthy smile.