Dental implant procedure is an advanced and effective restoration process that’s widely used. The implantis permanent and promotes healthy bone growth, while looking and functioning exactly like a natural tooth. Once your implant is placed, you feel no discomfort. You also get restored chewing and speaking ability.
With that established, if you are thinking about getting a dental implant(s), it’s important to know more. Learning about the procedure prepares you for what to expect during the process and keeps you stress-free.
Below are the steps of the complete process:
1. Evaluation
The evaluation takes place initially when you pay a visit to your dentist. The evaluation or consultation starts with the patient telling his/her dentist about the concerns and problems he/she is having. The dentist will listen to your concerns first and then take a good look inside your mouth. This is pretty much the evaluation procedure and based on the outcome, he will then decide whether you need an implant or not.
2. Extraction
The second step is known as extraction. Once both you and the dentist agree on the dental restoration procedure, your dentist may need to have your targeted tooth extracted. If your tooth was previously extracted or knocked out because of an accident, then your dentist might clean the surgical area thoroughly and proceed to bone-grafting.
3. Bone Grafting
Next, you may need a bone graft for the dental implant. Bone grafting is when your dentist takes a section of your bone and grafts it onto the jaw bone. Bone grafting isn’t for everyone; if you have a weak jawline structure, you should consider this step and speak with your dentist about it.
4. Placing the posts
Once the bone-grafting stage is complete, the implant is placed. Implants look like screws and are fixed into the jawbone to replace missing tooth roots. The posts/screws are made of titanium which are biocompatible.
Your dentist will then inspect the implants to make sure they are positioned in the proper place. Once the implants are properly placed, it takes 3-6 months for the implant to fuse to the jawbone.
5. Placing the dental crown
Once the osseointegration process (fusing) is complete, you need to visit your dentist for the final step. This last step involves your dentist placing a customized abutment on the top of your implant to connect the replacement tooth/teeth before placing a dental crown on top.
Need a consultation
If reading this made you concerned, don’t worry; the entire process is carried out minus the pain as your dentist will administer local anesthesia. Even if you feel slight discomfort, your dentist will prescribe you medications to take care of the situation. If you are seeking affordable dental implants in Charlotte, NC, we are here to help you out! Call us or check out our website to schedule a consultation session.