|
|
What Exactly Does the Dental Implant Procedure Involve?
First, you will need to
discuss your options with your dentist.
Together, it will be decided if you are a good candidate for
dental implants. The
dentist will take a complete dental history, x-rays, and complete a
thorough oral examination.
If you are a candidate for implant surgery, the procedure is
as follows:
|
|
1. Surgical placement of
the implant(s) into the bone. This is usually done right in the
dentist’s office, with a local anesthetic.
After surgery, there is a healing period of approximately
four months. During this
time, the implants fuse to the bone by a process known as ‘osseointegration’.
|
|
|
2. Next, there is a
minor surgical exposure of the top of the implant, whereby the
dentist will attach the post to the implant.
The function of the post is to become the support for either
one tooth or a set of teeth. This is a short procedure that usually
requires only local anesthesia. |
|
|
3. The last phase is the
restorative phase. The
dentist will take impressions and then make a prosthesis that will
attach to the implants.
This will require several visits.
Once completed, your mouth will be restored to natural
looking, strong teeth.
|
|
|
