There are now supplementary options to reinstate missing teeth and one that is gaining in reputation and is widely used is the dental implant.
The dental implant is usually prepared of titanium and is placed surgically by a qualified and trained dentist such as an oral surgeon. These are screw-like parts and are positioned into the jaw bone. Their main purpose is to replicate the root of the tooth.
There are numerous aspects that will determine the time frame needed for a dental implant procedure. These aspects include:
• The state of your dental health
• How many teeth are being involved
• Which teeth are being replaced
• Whether tooth extraction is required or not
These aspects will also establish the total number of visits to the dental clinic throughout the treatment period. For example, a single tooth implant surgery can usually take 1-2 hours from start to finish. The time frame will include the time from when you will be sedated and getting you ready for disinfected surgical surroundings.
Just like any other surgical procedure, you will feel some kind of discomfort when undergoing dental implant procedure. Local anesthesia and/or I.V. for oral sedation are used to eliminate any discomfort at the time of the procedure.
However a lot of patients have reported that they were much more relaxed after the teeth implant procedure than they had expected. Your doctor will recommend medications to alleviate any pain that may crop up.
Before the dental implant procedure is started your dentist may give you some directions to follow.
These may include:
• Rinsing your mouth with a special anti-bacterial mouthwash.
• Will recommend you some antibiotics to take for a few days prior to surgery as a precaution.
• Recommending you to have healthy breakfast on the day when you will undergo teeth implant. However if you have decided to undergo I.V. sedation then they will not recommend you to eat anything after midnight before surgery.
• They will also suggest you to get someone along with you so that they can drive you home in case after tooth implant surgery if you have decided to take sedation.
There will be some bruises and swelling in your gums and soft tissues and that’s absolutely normal. The discomfort however gets cured with just an ordinary painkiller such as ibuprofen, hydrocodone, or codeine. The discomfort would last for a day and you can expect to work and carry out your daily tasks from the next day.
It absolutely important for you take good care of your new dental implant and getting them checked regularly, just like your natural teeth. Make sure you brush and floss the implant tooth as prescribed by your dentist or dental hygienist. Make sure you visit the oral clinic every six months or may be more in case your oral surgeon has suggested the same.
