What is the Dental Implant Procedure?

If you have a missing tooth that you are feeling insecure about, or you are about to have a tooth extracted, your dentist may recommend for you to consider a dental implants. Not sure what exactly a dental implant is? A dental implant is a replacement tooth that is fixed in your mouth through a multiple step process. Here is some more information to help you understand what exactly a dental implant is and what the multiple step process involves.

Why a dental implant?

e purpose of a dental implant is to permanently replace a missing tooth. The replacement procedure involves your dentist inserting a metal post in your gums that acts as a root of the new tooth. Once the post has been inserted in the gums, an artificial crown is attached to the post. An artificial crown is a fake tooth that is crafted to look like your real teeth. Together the implanted post and crown give you both the stability and and the look of a real tooth. There are other alternative tooth replacement options that require less work to install, but are also less permanent, including dentures or a dental bridge.

What happens during the dental implant surgery?

Getting a dental implant requires oral surgery that occurs in two steps. The first step is implanting the metal post. After the post has been installed, the jaw bone and the gums will heal tightly around the post. Once the gums and jawbone have healed the and post is secure, the second step is installing the artificial crown. While the procedure for both steps occur fairly quickly, the total time it takes to get an dental implant is a bit longer than most people expect. This is due to the healing process that is required for a successful implant. A dental implant is a permanent tooth replacement option, therefore the total process of getting a dental implant is a bit more involved to help permanently fix the implant in your mouth.

What do I need to do to prepare for this procedure?

The most important step to prepare for the dental implant procedure, is to have thorough discussion with your dentist. This discussion is a good start to make sure you understand what is involved in your treatment plan, your recovery timeline, and what you should expect for the process. The process will start with your dentist completing a check-up and oral exam to help your dentist plan the surgery steps, select an implant that is a good fit for you, and make sure your oral health is acceptable to handle a new implant. After your dentist has determined their treatment plan they will also discuss with you’re the anesthesia that they will use and any pain medication plans. Dental implant surgery today is a commonly completed straightforward outpatient surgical procedure. While the thought of the process seems time consuming and involved upfront, after the multiple steps and the healing you will have a durable new tooth that restores the look and function of your smile.

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