Implants are one of the options that you get to choose from when it comes to missing tooth replacement. These oral restorations go into your jaw and serve as bases for crowns that replace your missing teeth. Implants are the only tooth replacement options that can help prevent the bone tissue atrophy that takes place when teeth fall out.
Bone tissues need regular stimulation just like muscles do to remain healthy and regenerate at appropriate rates. When teeth fall out, the tissues that once held their roots in place stop getting the stimulation they need, so they begin to break down. This can lead to a sunken look and wrinkles developing around the person's mouth.
People with multiple missing teeth can have them all replaced with implants if they choose. Dentists typically recommend multiple implants when a patient only has a few missing teeth. Combining implants with other restorations like dentures is often a better option for people who have already lost most of their real teeth.
Getting implants starts with a dentist evaluating a patient's medical and dental history. Inserting implants into bone tissues in the jaw is a surgical procedure, and patients need to be healthy enough for the procedure. Health conditions like diabetes make it harder to heal. The dentist will also talk to the patient about their habits, since smoking or drinking can slow down the healing process.
The patient's jawbone will then be examined to determine if it is thick enough to hold implants. Diagnostic tools like X-rays are often used for this. Not having enough bone thickness in the jaw does not rule out implants as an option for such patients. It just means they will need to get bone grafts to be eligible for implants. It can take up to three months to heal afterward, and patients need to be fully healed before getting implants.
Once a patient has been cleared for implants, the dentist will set a date for the surgical installation of their prosthetics. The patient is given a shot of an anesthetic at the start of the treatment so they do not feel any pain as the dentist works.
Incisions might be made to better access the jawbone, then the dentist drills a hole for each implant that will be installed. The implants are pushed into their corresponding holes until they are held down by the bone tissues around them. The implants might be covered with healing caps to protect them as the area heals.
It takes up to six months for implants to bond with the tissues around them. Once that has occurred, an abutment is attached to the implant and a crown is placed on it. The patient's missing teeth are restored at that point, and their artificial teeth will not require any special maintenance.
Call or visit our Carmel clinic to learn more about how our dentist can replace your missing teeth with dental implants.
Request an appointment here: https://www.carmelsmilesdentist.com or call Smiles in the Village Dentistry at (317) 575-6101 for an appointment in our Carmel office.
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