The name ‘dental implant’ scares a lot of people. However, it is a simple dental surgery which replaces the root of your tooth and helps support any dental prosthetics. It is also a painless procedure which serves the purpose of fixing major dental issues without any fuss.
A dental implant is a component which is fixed to the jawbone to build the base for dentures or artificial crowns. These devices, in effect, replace your teeth when you have serious dental problems. The placement of the crowns or in some cases, a larger bridge, is done after the implant surgery. In the last few years, dental science has progressed by leaps and bounds, leading to more advanced implants made from titanium or titanium alloys. Titanium is a remarkable metal, as it fuses with the bone through a process called Osseo-integration.
Modern technology has made it possible to make state-of the-art dental implants which precisely fit into the jawbone, thereby accelerating the healing process and ensuring a stress-free fusion. For some people, the very idea of having something inserted into their jawbone scares them. But in reality, the procedure for dental implants is a simple one that actually helps people get a permanent fix for their dental issues. There’s more harm involved in avoiding implants than in getting them. If you avoid them, you’ll suffer from problems such as bone loss and misplacement of teeth.
Preparing for the Surgery
Dental implants are medically considered to be a minor surgery. And with proper pre-surgical care, it can be a very simple process. You need to get an X-Rray and if indicated a CT-Scan to help the doctor determine where exactly your new teeth will be placed. The pre-surgery scans and tests are done in order to ensure that the implants are placed in exactly the right place.
Before the surgery starts, your dentist will administer a local anesthesia to make sure that you do not feel any pain during the procedure. If you are prone to anxiety, it might be a good idea to tell your dentist to give you some medication to keep you stress free during the procedure.
During the Surgery
The dentist begins the operation by making cuts into the gums to create flaps which will give him access to drill a small hole into the bone and prepare the site for the implant. It is through this channel that the implant is placed. Your dentist will adjust the size of the site in order to ensure that the implants fit in perfectly. An x-ray is done after the implants to check if they have been placed in the correct spot.
Once the implants are fitted perfectly into the site, your dentist will close the gum flaps and the healing process will begin.
Post-Surgery Care
After the operation, you need to follow all the advice that your dentist gives. Every individual is different and your dentist will give you the details of post-operative care that’s required for healing. Usually, dentists prescribe mild anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve any pain or discomfort. You might also need to take some antibiotics and use anti-bacterial rinses.
The healing process is usually very fast, making this simple procedure quite ideal for solving stubborn dental problems.
