Dental implants look like natural teeth and they function in the same way. If you are finding it difficult to speak or eat as a result of multiple missing teeth, one of the treatment procedures that can be considered is getting dental implants.

The first thing you need to do is visit your dentist.

There will be a consultation where the dentist will check the state of your oral health. They will go through your medical history and any medications you are taking at the moment. There are also many types of dental implants so they will discuss with you certain types that you are a good candidate for. In addition to visually inspecting your teeth, the dentist may also take an x-ray or other imaging to get a better understanding of the condition of your jawbone. Many dental implants will require you to have sufficient bone density as the implants are anchored in the jawbone. There are other treatment options if you don’t have sufficient bone density and these will be discussed with you as well. The dentist will go over the benefits and challenges of each type so you have a better understanding of what is best for your situation.

At the initial consultation, you can also clarify any concerns you have.

For example you can ask the dentist do dental implants hurt? and how to take care of them?. When it comes to the procedure, you will not feel any pain as your nerves will be numbed. There will be tenderness around the implant site a few days after the procedure but this will not be an issue for long. Once you have gone through the consultation, a treatment plan will be developed for you. The dentist will consider your situation and requirements in tailoring a treatment plan. Some of the steps of this plan can include extracting damaged teeth, carrying out bone grafting if there is insufficient bone density etc.

A surgical procedure is needed to place the implant directly into the jawbone. To ensure you don’t feel any pain or discomfort during this, you will be under local anaesthesia or sedation. The process of the implant fusing with the jawbone can take a few months and you will need to follow the instructions given by the dentist to ensure that all is going according to plan. There may be certain foods that you will not be able to eat such as hard food. The dentist may also give you antibiotics to prevent infection. Once the fusing of the implant with the jawbone is complete, an abutment will be placed on top of the implant so that it can connect the restoration and the implant. The final stage will be placing the replacement onto the abutment and this can be a bridge, crown etc. However, there will be some time between placing the abutment and placing the restoration so that your gums can heal. This can take up to several weeks.

 

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