Steps of Getting A Dental Implant Procedure
Deciding to have dental implants is a life changing decision that not only improves the quality of life but also enhances self-confidence. The implants are used to replace root parts of teeth. They are suitable for cases such as bad teeth, falling teeth, gum disease, bad breath and missing teeth.
Most of the modern dental implants are made of titanium alloys or pure titanium. Titanium is unique in that it can fuse directly to the bone through a process called osseointegration. Therefore, the implant should be engineered in a way that will increase its surface area to bone contact. This may be achieved by either microscopically roughening or altering its surface or giving the implant a spiral (screw-like) shape with multiple threads. The shape ensures that the implants are fitted accurately, thus enhancing fusion and healing.
Unlike the belief of many individuals, the implants are not painful. The procedure is minor especially when proper planning has been done. Here are three crucial steps followed when one is getting the implants.
Pre-surgery
At this point, CT scanning, X-ray examination and an accurate surgery guide come in handy. The examination allows determination of the bite (occlusion), where the replacement will be placed.
Surgery
The dental surgeon starts by preparing the site. A small hole is made in the bone. This procedure is known as osteotomy. Incisions in the gum are used to access the bone. A surgical guide or template, which is prepared before the surgery is then placed at the site. Sometimes a drilling sequence is used to ensure that the implant fits accurately. In other cases, this may not be necessary, especially for a person who has good bone quality and very precise surgical guides.
The implants are then placed into the sites. They must be sterile. Thus, their surfaces should not be touched. The gum flap tissues are then closed, as this is the final procedure during the surgery. In most cases, self-absorbing stitches are used as they need not be removed. If the stitches used are not self-absorbing, they need to be removed after two weeks.
Post-surgery
Non-steroid mild anti-inflammatory drugs are used. Most of them are from the ibuprofen and aspirin family. Antibiotics may also be necessary to enhance healing. The dental surgeon will prescribe all the appropriate medication.
Because of the gentle tissue management and the nature of the surgery, healing and minimum discomfort is experienced. There are about 96% successful cases. However, every person and situation is unique; thus the dental surgeon ought to give the patient some insights on what to expect.
So long as the process is organized, then the running will be smooth. Dental implants are vital in many ways. Embracing them is thus a recommendable thing to do.