If you have some missing teeth and your friends, relatives or dentist have suggested you get dental implants, you are in the right place. This article helps you understand what dental implants are and how your dentist installs them:
What Are Dental Implants?
These are metal poles that are placed in your jaw to act as the root of your artificial teeth. An abutment is then attached to this pole to form an attachment place for your artificial tooth crown.
How Are Dental Implants Placed?
You need dental surgery to place dental implants. Your dentist must run some tests to ensure that you are a good candidate for dental implants. He or she needs:
- Your medical history
- An X-ray of your gums
- 3D images of your teeth and jaws
- A model of your teeth and jaws
Once the above things are done and help conclude that you are a good candidate for dental implants, dental implant surgery can be done. If you are not a good candidate for dental implants, the dentist recommends dentures.
How Should You Prepare for Dental Implant Surgery?
Let your dentist give you such details because people differ. After running the different tests mentioned above, your dentist gets to know your medical history and can better inform you how to prepare for the surgery.
What Are the Steps to Dental Implant Placement?
- Placing the dental implants – A dentist cuts your gum to expose your jawbone, drills into your jaw bone and places the dental implants.
- Waiting for healing – You need some time for the dental implant to fuse with your jaw bone, which can be months.
- Placement of abutment – Dentist cuts your gum again to expose the dental implant so that he or she can attach the abutment.
- Waiting for healing – You need some time for your gum to heal, which is usually two to three weeks.
- Placement of the artificial crown – The dentist places or attaches an artificial crown on the abutment. It can either be temporary or permanent; you can choose the option you like.
Are You Awake or Unconscious During Dental Implant Surgery?
You should know that there are three types of anaesthesia:
- Local anaesthesia – You are awake and only the area requiring surgery is numbed.
- Regional anaesthesia – You are awake and an entire part of your body is numbed, for example, from the waist downwards, especially during caesarean delivery.
- General anaesthesia – You are unconscious.
Dental implant surgery is usually conducted under general anaesthesia; however, if you have an underlying condition that makes it a risk for you to be under general anaesthesia, your dentist can perform the surgery under local anaesthesia.
Reach out to a professional to learn more about dental implants.
