Implants last for years and look just like real teeth. After your implant heals into the bone, it is strong enough to hold your crown. A missing tooth makes eating and smiling harder; it can also affect your oral health. Dental implants are durable and natural-looking solutions for replacing missing teeth. If you want dental implants, these are the procedures you should know about: consultation and examination, surgical placement, a 3-6-month healing process, attaching the connector and finally the placement of the artificial tooth. This blog will help you understand the procedures and preparations before the beginning of treatment.
Consultation & examination
An extensive dental exam with X-ray or scan will be conducted to assess the jawbone and plan the treatment. This assessment determines if you are an eligible candidate for the surgery and measures your treatment timeline. The dentist will examine your mouth to evaluate fundamental oral health. Once all data has been collected, your dentist will map out requirements for your specific surgical path. They will determine if your surgery needs extractions, a bone graft, and to build the weak jawbone before the implant can be placed and provide a breakdown of the fees and the duration of the healing process.
Surgical placement
During this procedure, the dentist places the implant into the jawbone under local anaesthesia. The primary goal is to reduce pain and discomfort during the surgery. Your dentist will make an incision in the gum, drill a hole in the jawbone and screw in the titanium implant post. The final step protects the implant site whilst the bone is prepared to heal around it. A protective cap may be attached to the implant to guide how your gum heals around it. The gum tissue is sealed or stitched back together over or around the implant cap using removable stitches.
Healing process
Over the next three to six months, the implant gradually bonds with the surrounding jawbone through a natural process called osseointegration, the direct structural and functional connection between the living and the artificial weight-bearing implant. After 24 hours of surgery, the titanium post is inserted; that is when your body starts a healing chain reaction. The blood fills the microscopic space between the jawbone and implant surface to speed up the healing process. To ensure smooth recovery, your body needs zero mobility; any silly movement can cause the bone to form soft scar tissue instead of solid bone.
Attaching the connector
Once healing is completed, a small connector is attached to the implant. The connector connects the implant to the final restoration. This will work as the base that will hold your tooth physically. The dentist will tighten an internal screw to lock the connector firmly into place, and this ensures it never gets loose when chewing. Final step: placement of the artificial tooth. After healing of the gums around the connector, impressions of your teeth are taken to create a perfect final look. Once custom-made, this artificial tooth is permanently attached to the abutment.
Conclusion
Dental implants are important and reliable solutions for replacing missing teeth. The treatment requires many stages; each stage is designed to ensure smooth success, comfort, long-term tooth lifespan and a natural look. Seeking help from an experienced dentist can help you know if implants are the right option for restoring your smile and confidence. Ludhiana Dental Centre offers personalised treatment for tooth extraction and comprehensive dental consultation and oral examination. Dr Bikramjit Singh Dhillion is an expert in providing guidance, treatment of tooth decay, dental implants, and oral conditions and is well known for his excellence in dentistry.
FAQ’s
How safe are dental implants?
They are considered one of the safest and most reliable options for replacing missing teeth.
How should I take care of my dental implant?
Take care of your implant the same way you care for natural teeth. Brush your teeth twice a day, and come and see the dentist for regular checkups.