Dental Implant Surgery
Are you considering dental implants in Fountain Hills, but are still unsure if it is the right choice for you? Perhaps knowing more about the process of dental implant surgery will help you make up your mind. To have dental implants placed, you should know that outpatient surgery is required and that the process may take several steps to complete. And, how the dental implant surgery is performed is based on the condition of your jawbone. Mainly though, implants can provide a solid and more comfortable solution than dentures because they are made to fuse into your very own jawbone. Because this fusion takes time to heal, the process can not only require many steps, but may also take many months before finished.
How Are Dental Implants Put in?
But first you should be aware of how dental implants are put in. To place your dental implants, the dentist or oral surgeon will make an incision in your gums and expose your jawbone. Tiny holes will be drilled into the bone so that a metal post can be placed, and this post will act as a tooth root for your new teeth.
After the metal post is placed, a process called osseointegration occurs. During this time, your jawbone fuses with the dental implants. The process of osseointegration can take several months. But, when finished, you will be left with a solid base for your new teeth.
Next, The Abutment is Placed
After the process of osseointegration is finished, the abutment is placed. The abutment is the piece where the crown of your new teeth will attach. This is also considered minor outpatient surgery. To put in the abutment your dentist or oral surgeon will open your gums to expose the dental implant. The abutment is placed to the dental implant and then your gums are closed around it, but not over it. After the abutment is put in, your gums must heal for about two weeks.
Getting Your New Artificial Teeth Placed
The final step in getting dental implants is having your new teeth placed. So, after your gums heal, you will have impressions of your mouth made. With these impressions, a crown will be made, which are your new teeth. This is what will be visible in your mouth. You will be left with natural looking new teeth that are more comfortable than dentures.
Recovery After The Procedure
There may be some discomfort after the procedure. Common ailments include swelling of your gums, minor bleeding, bruising of your gums, and mild pain in your gums or jawbone. These symptoms can last several days. Typically, these discomforts can be treated with over the counter pain medication, although your dentist may prescribe you antibiotics or pain medication.
After the procedure, you may need to eat soft foods only until the surgical site heals. If you had stitches put in that are not the self dissolving kind, you will need to go in after the healing process is done and get them removed. After the healing is done, you will be left with natural looking new teeth.