A dental implant is a small, titanium prosthesis embedded into the jawbone
. They are used to provide a safe, secure and robust anchor for additional dental structures later on. Bridgeless crowns are the most common use for these prosthetic devices. One of their main advantages over bridges is their lack of need for an adjacent, supporting tooth.
The actual procedure is relatively straightforward. The continuous march of modern technology has streamlined the process and has increased the accuracy of attending surgeons significantly. Before the surgery, it is advisable that the patient get plenty of sleep and rest. A hearty breakfast is also useful, since the treatment can last for a few hours.
An accurate guide of the topography of a specific area on the jaw is first created in order to aid the dentist in his operation. Dental X-rays or radiographs are the common method used to obtain these guides. Other dental experts prefer the use of CT scanners or digital imaging equipment. The latter options tend to be more expensive, but they are more accurate and reliable.
After studying the jaw structure, the dentist Los Angeles would then make an incision over the crest of the target area in order to see the jawbones structure. Some surgeons prefer not to use this method and instead punch a hole through a layer of mucosa. They drill a hole on the exposed jaw bone, taking care to not damage or kill any nerves.
A good surgical dentist Los Angeles City is proud to call its own would be able to judge the proper depth to be drilled with or without an incision. He or she would then place the titanium dental implant into the hole. It has to line up perfectly with the rest of the teeth in order to mimic the structural appearance of real organic teeth.
The next 2-6 months are crucial for the success of the procedure. The implant would be left to heal until sufficient ossointegration has occurred. The actual crown will only be screwed into the foundation once a top dentist Los Angeles has deemed it healed enough to bear the strain. Using the crown too early may cause the implant to get displaced, thereby delaying the dental correction for another 18 months.