We have talked about dental implants before, but this is such an effective treatment that we can’t help but discuss them more!
About Dental Implants
A dental implant is an individual tooth replacement that effectively fills a gap in your teeth. A titanium rod is inserted into the bone of the jaws and a specially made tooth is fixed onto it. The tooth is designed to fit seamlessly next to the others in your mouth and be invisible once fitted.
The advantage of dental tooth implants is not only a great smile, but also holistic too. Having a dental implant reduces bone loss from not having a tooth and prevents gums receding around the area; two significant threats to your oral health.
The benefits are not purely physical either. You would be surprised at just how much influence your smile has on your mental wellbeing as well. The cost of dental implants pales to insignificance once the full benefits of dental implants have been experience first-hand!
So How Are Dental Implants Placed?
We begin preparing for dental implants by taking x-rays and maybe a Low Dose CT scan of your jaw. This is so we can properly assess the thickness of the bone around the area and how your existing teeth are situated around it.
The procedure itself is relatively simple and will be performed under local anesthetic. We clear the area, remove any remnants of the damaged tooth or infection and prepare the jaw for the titanium post. Sometime, a bone graft or soft tissue graft is needed to provide support for the dental implant. We will discuss this with you if that’s the case.
Once the titanium root is implanted, we have to let the bone grow around it before going further. We usually provide a temporary dental implant to cover the implant while you’re healing so the implant doesn’t look too obvious.
During the healing process, the bone will regrow around the implant and hold it in place. This is called Osseo-integration and is essential for a successful dental implant. It is similar to the same process that holds your other teeth in place and can take up to six months to complete. We will see you during this time to assess the rate of bone growth.
Once bone growth is complete, we place the abutment onto the dental implant. This is the base upon which the tooth is added. This is a quick procedure that often will not need to be performed under local anesthetic. Often we are now ready to make and place your final restoration.
Prices for dental implants vary depending on the work involved and the condition of the jaw. Schedule an appointment with our holistic dentists to find out more. Contact Aesthetic Family Dentistry today for an appointment!
