Dental health is an essential part of our lives. But, we tend to avoid caring for it. Imagine yourself having no teeth- not such a pleasing visual, is it? Losing your teeth can be devastating! But, dental implant surgery is one such dentistry service from Wheatland Dental Saskatoon that can save your day! People are pushed towards dental implants for various reasons. One may need dental implants due to tooth decay, gum infections, injury, or infections, or simply to replace a missing tooth. If you end up with any of such problems, consider visiting your dentist without further delay.
What Are Dental Implants?
If you do not know about dental implants, keep reading. The following lines will walk you through various nooks and corners of the concept of dental implant surgery.
- Dental implant surgery is a dentistry procedure done to replace tooth roots with screw-like metal posts.
- Dentists use artificial teeth to replace damaged or missing teeth.
- These artificial teeth look and function almost like the real ones.
- Dental implant surgery makes an excellent alternative to bridgework or dentures that have faulty fittings.
- In case of a lack of natural teeth roots holding back the building of bridgeworks, dental implants can be the savior.
- The condition of a patient’s jawbone and type of dental implant dominates the way of surgery.
The Timeframe Needed For Dental Implants:
Dental implant surgery at Wheatland Dental Saskatoon may need several procedures. However, the timeframe of the treatment depends on the type of implant you are getting. The implant location in your mouth, how many implants you are getting, and the need for bone grafting impacts the timeframe. The process is done in a few phases. The first phase involves the placement of a tooth root implant made of titanium. The second phase starts as the jawbone begins to heal- the longest stage of the process. The next step involves your dentist attaching a small anchor known as an abutment for your artificial teeth.
- In general, the dental implant procedure may last somewhere between 5 to 8 months, depending entirely on you- how you react to the treatment and your oral health.
- The procedure on a patient with excellent oral health and bone structure will take lesser time.
- If you need bone grafting- the process can extend for several months- that too before getting the actual implant!
However, there is good news for you. Impressive advances in dental implant technology make the surgical process simple. In some instances, the extraction and placement of implants with crowns can be done at one visit itself!
The Impact Of Bone Grafting:
If your jaw cannot support your implants, the surgery will be a total failure. Bone grafting can be the solution to create a strong base for your implants. You will need bone grafting before going through dental implant surgery if your jawbone is too soft or not thick enough. The newly transplanted bone may need several months to grow enough new bone for the required support. Your jawbone’s condition will determine this growth time. However, if you need a minor grafting, it can be done at the implant surgery time. Dentists at Wheatland Dental Saskatoon may use two ways to rebuild the jawbone.
- Natural Bone Grafting: This process uses bone from another location of a patient’s body.
- Synthetic Bone Grafting: A substitute material is used to support the implant structure in this process.
The Risks Involved
Some discomforts typically come along with any dental surgery. Even though problems are rare and minor, risks in dental implant surgeries include:
- Minor bleeding
- Pain at the implant site
- Swelling of gums and face
- Infection at the surgery site
- Bruising in the gums
- Nerve damage
- Damage to blood vessels or teeth near the implant site.
- Sinus problems generally come with upper jaw implants.
- Pain, tingling, or numbness in the natural teeth, lips, gums, or chin
- In some cases, the bone fails to fuse properly to the metal implant.
Take Care Of Your Dental Work
Oral hygiene is very crucial if you are getting dental implants. You can follow the following tips to help your dental work from Wheatland Dental Saskatoon remain healthy:
- Avoid smoking and drinking coffee. It contributes to the failure of your dental implant.
- Make sure to keep your artificial teeth, implants, and gums clean.
- Do not chew hard items like candy or ice.
- Follow up with your dentist at Wheatland Dental Saskatoon to check up on your implant’s performance.