Dental Care for All of Us

Whether you have been living with slight imperfections in the color or shape of your teeth or a more involved case of tooth decay, you can restore your smile back to an appealing and healthy state. Today, more and more patients are choosing dental implants because of how effective they are for restoring smiles. With proper placement and care, implants can be 90 to 95 percent successful over a period of 10 years, making them a great investment for your smile. Here are a few things to help you prepare for the placement of implants.

Plan and Prep

Most people are surprised to learn placing implants requires multiple visits. In other words, you cannot walk into one appointment and walk out with your new smile. Therefore, you need to plan in advance for your smile restoration.

To get started, your dentist will want to see you for a full consultation. During the consultation, your dentist will determine if you are a good candidate for implants or not. For example, if you have severe bone loss in your jaw because of tooth decay, a bone graft may be necessary before placing any implants.

If you are a good candidate, the dentist will need to take molds or impressions of your teeth. These are sent to a lab to manufacture the implants using 3D technology, ensuring the implants appear like a natural part of your smile.

Placement Process

Once the implants are ready, your dentist will schedule an appointment for placement. Again, the placement requires more than just a few minutes because it is a light surgical procedure.

An incision in the gum tissue is made before the titanium rod is inserted into the jaw bone. The incision is sutured up and a temporary crown will be placed on the actual implant piece.

It will be a period of time before the temporary crown is removed and the permanent crown is placed. Throughout this period, the titanium will fuse with the bone of the jaw. This creates a secure implant that will be effective for many years to come.

Necessary Maintenance

There is a common misconception many people believe — a smile with implants does not require any oral hygiene or special maintenance. While they are durable, implants are a part of your mouth, teeth, and gums, so they will require just as much cleaning and maintenance as your natural teeth and gums.

Continue brushing and flossing as normal. And, schedule routine checkups with your dentist. Make sure to never use your restored smile as a tool to open packages or bottles, as well.

For more information, contact a dental clinic like Pacific Ave Dental/Allan L. Hablutzel, DDS.