subject: What Is A Dental Implant Procedure? [print this page] If you have lost a tooth or several teeth then you could be a good candidate for the dental implant procedure. This procedure is a small surgery that can help you replace missing teeth. It has many advantages over simply being fitted with dentures.
It can also help you look younger if you have lost a tooth and suffered the effects of bone loss. It can also improve your dental hygiene. This is the best way to solve a pesky missing tooth whether you lost it in an accident or through tooth decay. Though more complicated than dentures, it is well worth the extra trouble.
The Procedure
The actual dental implant procedure is quite simple. If you have lost a tooth you will see that where the root of the tooth used to be there is now a hole. If you leave the missing tooth alone the bone in your jaw will eventually atrophy and disappear. This will change the shape of your jaw and you may find yourself looking older. This is because your face will sag as jaw loses important bone mass.
When you undergo a dental implant procedure a small titanium implant is inserted into your gum. This is done by cutting the gum open and drilling a small hole into the jawbone. The implant is then placed into the jawbone and left to fuse with the jawbone for anywhere from six weeks to six months depending on how fast your body heals.
After the dental implant procedure you will be fitted with a temporary tooth. Once your jaw has healed sufficiently the gum flap will be opened and a post and temporary crown will be fitted. Eventually a permanent false tooth will be fitted. This usually happens about four to six weeks afterwards.
Ideal Candidates
You should visit a dental implant clinic to see if you are an ideal candidate for the dental implant procedure. A CT scan and some x-rays will be necessary to see if you can have the dental implant procedure. If you have any type of gum disease you need to have this treated before the procedure is carried out.
You should also not be a heavy smoker or consume alcohols excessively. Both these things can hinder and disrupt the healing process. If you grind your teeth at night you may need some type of splint to stop this. Anyone who is immune-compromised should not have this procedure done.
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