How a Dental Implant Works

How a Dental Implant Works

Dental implants are one of the most popular and successful forms of dental restoration. If you're considering getting dental implants, it's essential to understand how they work and what to expect from the implant process.

To begin, let's first review what a dental implant is.

What is a Dental Implant?

A dental implant is a titanium post; it resembles a screw that is of surgical grade and biocompatible with your body. Titanium is a product used to make surgical repairs over the skeletal frame, most commonly in the knees and hips.

Titanium is used because of its biocompatibility, meaning your body will not reject it. This is important because the dentists at The Center for Implant & General Dentistry surgically place a foreign object to dwell in your body.

The body not only doesn't reject it but will heal and grow around it, bonding it to your bone. This bond is called osseointegration, and once this bond has taken place, the implant is firmly held in place. If properly taken care of, it can last your whole life.

How Do Dental Implants Work?

After your dentist determines that you're a good candidate for dental implants, they will schedule an appointment with oral surgery at our offices in Lindale, Texas. The procedure may take between one and two hours depending upon how complicated it turns out to be, in addition to any other oral injuries patients might have at their disposal as well.

The following is the step-by-step procedure for placing a dental implant:

Step 1: Placing the Implant

The first step is to place the implant in your jawbone surgically. One of our highly-trained oral surgeons performs this procedure, experts in placing implants. The process usually takes one to two hours, depending on the severity of your bone loss.

During this time, you will be given either general or local anesthesia to keep you comfortable while the implant is being placed. However, we have other levels of sedation at The Center for Implant and General Dentistry. We want you to feel no pain.

Once the implant has been inserted into your jawbone, a healing abutment will be attached to the end of it. The dentist will give you a temporary replacement tooth made from either a bridge or a dental crown that is colored and designed to match your natural teeth.

This crown functions as your new tooth while the implant heals, but ultimately the bridge will need to be replaced with another one when the implant is fully healed.

Step 2: Attaching the post

After your implant has been given time to heal, attaching a post and a crown is the second step. The dentist uses x-rays or scans to show precisely where the jawbone is and how much bone needs to be added to hold the crown in place properly.

While you are under anesthesia, titanium posts are bonded with your jawbone using the same titanium type used to place the implant. The post is cemented onto your jawbone, and once it has been properly fitted, you will be sent home with a temporary bridge or top on top of this post.

Step 3: Crown Attachment

Once the jawbone has healed, your dentist will attach a temporary crown. Crowns are made in a dental lab and then directly placed over the posts that have been securely bonded into your jaw.

Your dentist will place temporary crowns on top of each post implanted until they can be appropriately shaped and colored to match the rest of your teeth. You will wear these temporary crowns for several weeks while the tooth is hardening in place.

When do you need a dental implant?

You might need a dental implant if you have lost one or more teeth. You should consider getting implants anytime you've had tooth loss due to an injury, gum disease, injury, or any other reason that affects the roots of your natural teeth.

Dental implants are also used as replacements for missing teeth to help people achieve optimal oral health and a perfect smile.

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Caring for your dental implants

After having a dental implant placed, you will need to care for them like natural teeth. Brush and floss around the implant daily and use special mouthwashes that are gentle enough not to irritate the tissues surrounding the implant.

Also, be sure to schedule regular dental appointments to clean and inspect your implants.

Can dental implants make a difference?

Yes. Dental implants are just as strong as natural teeth and can last a lifetime with proper care. In addition, dental implants will improve your oral health by preventing the shifting of surrounding teeth that typically occurs with removable dentures and bridges.

With implants replacing missing teeth, you'll look and feel better and more confident. You can smile or laugh without holding back, and if you have speech or chewing problems, these will be eliminated as well.

Although they may sound expensive, the benefits of a dental implant make it a worthwhile investment in your oral health. It can last a lifetime and improve your appearance and ability to chew food properly.

What Do Dental Implants Look Like?

how dental implants workA dental implant will look and feel like a natural tooth. When the implant is placed into your jaw, it will fuse with the surrounding bone tissue. At this point, the implant will feel just like any other part of your jaw.

When placed correctly, dental implants will stand just as solid as natural teeth to ensure that you get the most out of your smile.

Dental implants are used for cosmetic reasons and to improve your chewing ability. You have had a tooth removed due to an injury or gum disease; you will need to have a dental implant placed.

At the Center for Implant and General Dentistry in Lindale, Texas, our dentist can help you decide whether or not dental implants are right for you. We offer complete implant services to fix any problem that you may have with your teeth or gums.

We will schedule a time for the surgery and talk about what it means for your overall health in the future. At our office, we want you to be able to smile and know that you're receiving the best possible treatment.

Contact our dentist today to see if dental implants are right for your next stage in life.

References

Irandoust, Soroush, and Sinan Müftü. "The interplay between bone healing and remodeling around dental implants." Scientific Reports 10.1 (2020): 1-10.  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-60735-7

Schierz, Oliver, and Daniel R. Reissmann. "DENTAL PATIENT-REPORTED OUTCOMES--THE PROMISE OF DENTAL IMPLANTS." Journal of Evidence Based Dental Practice 21.1 (2021): 101541. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1532338221000166

Surovas, Andrejus. "A digital workflow for modeling of custom dental implants." 3D printing in medicine 5.1 (2019): 1-11. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41205-019-0046-y