Dental implants have a success rate as high as 95%, which is one of the leading reasons people choose them for tooth-replacement services.
Choosing an implant provides a long-term solution for a missing tooth, and the implant works and acts almost exactly like a natural tooth.
If you have a dental implant procedure scheduled, you might feel nervous about it. You shouldn’t, though. Dentists that provide implants are experts in this field, and you can feel confident that your dentist knows what he’s doing.
You can prepare for this event, though, by understanding what to expect during the procedure. Here is a guide to help you understand how the procedure works.
Bone Grafting Is Essential in Some Cases
If you decide to get a dental implant, you might have to go through an additional step before your dentist can complete the implant process. This step is bone grafting.
A dental implant requires support from the jawbone. Unfortunately, some people do not have thick enough jawbones to provide the support that implants need. These individuals must go through a bone-grafting procedure to solve this problem.
Bone grafting involves placing bone into the area where the jawbone lacks. The bone grows to the existing jawbone over time, which takes three to six months in most cases.
Once the bone fuses together, the dentist can continue to the next step.
The Dentist Inserts the Implant
When the jawbone is sufficient, the dentist can move on to the next step. This step requires the dentist to insert a small device into the bone. Dentists call this device an implant.
Before your dentist does this, he will numb your mouth, as the procedure can be painful without anesthetic. The dentist must open your gums to access the bone and will close them when finished.
After getting this done, your dentist might have you check back in three to six months. You cannot move on to the final step until the implant fuses with your bone. You might have to visit the clinic several times before you’re ready for the final step.
The Next Step Involves Placing the Remaining Parts
A dentist will take x-rays to see if the fusion is complete before moving on to the last step. The last step involves placing the two remaining parts of the implant in your mouth.
One part is the abutment, which is a titanium screw that attaches to the implant in your bone. The other part is the crown, which is the artificial tooth you will see when the implant procedure is complete.
Get More Information About the Dental Implant Procedure
The dental implant procedure is a very popular service today, and it provides an ideal solution for any missing tooth.
If you live in the Mansfield, TX area and are interested in learning more about the dental implant procedure, contact us.
We can help you determine if you are a good candidate for the implant procedure, and we can help you learn what to expect from it.
