The loss of a single tooth or teeth should not cause you to begin hiding your smile because consultation with your dentist will reveal how easy it is to improve your smile dramatically with dental implant surgery. This is a procedure that will replace the missing tooth or teeth with titanium posts that look and function like your natural teeth.
How the surgery for the implants is performed will depend on the condition of your jawbone and the type of implant. The surgery will involve several procedures that will provide a solid support for your replacement teeth in a process that allows the bone to heal tightly around the implant. The healing will require time and the process will take many months to complete.
The procedure is performed to surgically place the implants in your jawbone where they serve as the roots of the missing teeth. The titanium posts used will integrate with your jawbone without slipping, making noise or causing bone damage. Titanium does not decay, unlike your natural teeth that can support regular bridgework.
Dentists will recommend implants for you if:
If you have been determined suitable for the procedure you must have a thorough evaluation to prepare for the process including:
Treatment plan. The treatment plan will be tailored to your situation after considering factors like the number of teeth you want replacing and the condition of your jawbone and remaining teeth.
Any surgical procedure can cause pain before and after the method. However, you will be offered different options to control the pain in the form of local anesthesia, sedation, or general anesthesia. Discussing with your dental specialist about the option best suited for you will help you to understand the information of any pain you may experience during the procedure. You will be instructed by the dental team about eating or drinking before the procedure depending on the type of anesthesia you will be provided. If you have chosen sedation or general anesthesia you need to have someone drive you back home after the surgery and rest for the remainder of the day.
Some discomfort can be expected during the healing process regardless of whether you have had the surgery in a single stage or multiple stages. These are quite common and will include:
You can expect to have soft foods after every stage of the surgery when the surgical site is healing. The oral surgeon would have put sutures at the surgical site which dissolve and therefore you must be prepared for the same.
Your dentist would have recommended pain medications and antibiotics after the surgical procedure. You can contact your oral surgeon if the swelling, discomfort or any other problem affects you or worsens in the days after the surgery. The area of the surgery is likely to hurt a couple of days during the healing process which is quite normal and the pain will subside without causing you a major complication.
Dental implants are considered cosmetic dentistry by insurance companies and most will not cover the cost of the implants or surgery. However, you can make inquiries with your insurance provider to understand if any coverage is offered in the dental plan you have.
The success of dental implants has been acclaimed highly and people having them just need to maintain their oral hygiene in good condition to be in a position to display a new set of artificial teeth in their mouth in places where gaps existed.
