How Do Dental Implants Stay in Place?
Every year approximately 500,000 people have dental implants placed in their mouths to replace missing or extracted teeth. Dental implants for men and women of all ages are a fully functional and natural-looking solution as replacements for damaged or missing teeth. Furthermore, dental implants remain in the mouth as permanent placements because they are held in place by your jawbone after embedding the implants by dental implants Tampa. However, are you aware of how dental implants remain in place? This article provides information on how dental implants remain affixed in your jawbone. We suggest you continue reading for more details.
Osseointegration: The Fusion Process
Dental implants are tiny titanium posts surgically embedded directly into your jawbone by the dentist in Tampa. Having the implant in your mouth isn’t the end, but the beginning of a lengthy procedure called osseointegration, where the titanium post fuses with your jawbone to become part of your body. The fusion process ensures the implants will not slip, slide, make noise, or damage the neighboring teeth or bone similar to other tooth replacement solutions. The osseointegration process requires three to six months and proper maintenance with dental hygiene and quitting harmful habits that might inhibit the implants from fusing with your jawbone.
Can Dental Implants Loosen during the Healing?
After receiving implants from the dental offices in Tampa, FL, the specialists from the facility advise you not to smoke or indulge in any activities that might hamper osseointegration and lead to loosening of the implant during the healing. If you don’t adhere to the dentist’s instructions, dental implants loosen and fail, preventing you from having the artificial tooth you desired as a substitute for your natural tooth. Therefore you must stay away from habits like smoking that always inhibit healing and make you susceptible to gum disease, a leading cause of dental implant failure. Loosening of a dental implant indicates you might have to undergo the entire procedure all over again if you want tooth replacement solutions.
What if I’ve already lost a lot of bone?
If you have already lost a lot of bone after missing your teeth and seek dental implants near you, the specialists from the facility will recommend you undergo bone grafts or sinus lifts depending on your unique situation before you can have dental implants placed in your mouth. Bone grafting procedures require additional time for healing before dental implant placement. The methods are also different and will likely require more appointments with your dentist besides the higher costs.
How to Determine Your Candidature for Dental Implants?
To determine your candidature for dental implants, you must schedule an initial appointment with Dr. Allan Fallah. The specialist performs a complete oral evaluation, takes needed x-rays or images, looks into your oral and overall health history, and answers any questions you might have about the dental implant procedure. The doctor also performs a screening to determine whether you are an ideal candidate for dental implants.
Generally, dental implants are excellent options if you have one or more missing teeth with a jawbone that has attained complete growth. You must have sufficient jawbone to secure the implants or prepare yourself to have bone grafts. Your chances of getting dental implants increase significantly if you don’t have any health conditions that might affect bone healing while having healthy oral tissues. You must commit several months to the process and avoid smoking and tobacco products.
After the doctor completes your evaluation and determines your eligibility, they work with you to create a treatment plan that suits your needs and meets your goals.
The Dental Implant Procedure
When placing dental implants into your jawbone, the doctor will start by making a tiny incision in your gums to expose the jawbone. Next, they will drill a hole in the jawbone to place the implant deep into the missing tooth socket. Implants fuse with your body to function as an artificial tooth root. It is why the titanium post is embedded deep into your jawbone.
After placing your implants, the doctor will attach an abutment to it to serve as a resting place for your dental crowns serving as your artificial tooth. You receive a temporary crown over the implant to ensure you don’t display gaps in your smile during the healing process. The temporary crown ensures you can eat, speak, and smile confidently while waiting for your permanent crowns.
If you want to determine whether you are suitable for dental implants, please visit Carrollwood Dental Studio for an evaluation with the doctor and get your dental implants from an experienced dental professional.