Dental implants are one of the best options available for replacing missing teeth. They not only stop your teeth from going out of alignment, which they do when a tooth is missing but also restore function optimally. When you get a dental implant, before and after can feel very different. And that too in several ways. Here is everything you need to know about getting dental implants.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental Implants are a type of dental prosthetics that are inserted into your jaw surgically. They act as the root of the tooth over which a prosthetic crown can be placed. Following extensive tooth decay, gum disease or damaged teeth, tooth extractions are often needed, leaving a space where a tooth used to be. Implant dentistry allows the replacement of such teeth with either a single dental implant replacing the natural tooth or a full mouth rehabilitation where multiple teeth are replaced.
Need For Dental Implants
Following tooth loss, one might find it harder to eat properly if the tooth is missing at the back of the mouth. People often lose their confident smile if it’s a missing front tooth. Therefore, a dental implant can help restore function along with confidence.
But those are just short-term consequences. If the space of a missing tooth is left empty, the remaining teeth in the jaws begin to shift, disrupting the proper alignment of the teeth. The bone that once held the tooth in place also begins to deteriorate over time, leading to significant bone loss that is noticeable visibly. It is crucial to replace missing teeth, and that too in time.
Who Can Get A Dental Implant?
Not everyone who is missing teeth can get a dental implant. While they are a great choice of dental prosthetics, they are not for everyone. Several factors must be considered before deciding whether a person can get dental implants.
Bone Health
Bone health is a very crucial element where dental implants are concerned. Dental implants are meant to be inserted in the bone and left for a few months. The bone is given time to heal and let the implant integrate within it. Bone loss, due to any reason, makes it harder to place a dental implant. While a bone graft can be placed to increase the height of the jaw bone where the implant has to be inserted, it can only be raised to a certain extent.
Therefore, dental implants may not be favourable in individuals with extensive bone loss due to old age, smoking, gum disease or missing teeth for prolonged periods.
Age
Age is yet another critical factor when considering a dental implant. As mentioned earlier, bone needs to heal around the implant to be integrated successfully. However, the healing process in older ages is slowed significantly, and the implant fails to integrate. This is why dental implants are often discouraged in very old-age individuals.
Underlying Medical Conditions
Just like old age, many other medical conditions slow down the healing process significantly, leading to the failure of implant integration. Uncontrolled diabetes is an example of a situation where healing is considerably slowed and often leads to implant failure.
Oral Health
The process of getting a dental implant involves a surgical or invasive procedure. If there is an infection in the mouth or any other oral health condition, the chances of complications increase. Therefore, all oral health conditions affecting the surgery can delay the process. However, a dental implant can be placed once these conditions are resolved.
Process Of Getting Dental Implants
The process of getting a dental implant is a long one and can take months. It requires several visits to your dentist and can be painful, but it’s pretty worth it in the end. Here is how you can expect the whole process to go.
Consultation & Initial Examinations
The first step with be to consult a dentist who will examine your case. They would likely do an oral examination along with some X-rays to get a better idea of your oral health.
Following this examination, your dentist will let you know if you have any decaying or infected teeth that need to be treated or any other oral health conditions that need to be managed before your dental implant procedure can begin.
Once that is done, your dentist will tell you how many implants you need and what they will cost you. You don’t necessarily need to get all the implants advised, but it is recommended that you do. You can always get a second opinion from another dentist if you are having trouble deciding.
Bone Graft
Not everyone who gets a dental implant needs a bone graft. As mentioned earlier, a bone graft is specifically for those with less than the optimal amount of bone height in the jawbone. Therefore, additional surgery must be performed where bone grafting material is placed surgically under the gums and left to heal for a minimum of three months. The process is usually carried out under a local anaesthetic and can be performed easily by an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
Implant Placement
Once your dentist deems the bone graft healed, the implant can be placed. This will require another surgical procedure where the gums are incised and raised first. The dental implant will then be inserted into your jawbone, and the gums will be stitched back in place once in place.
Just like the bone graft, the implant is left to heal for a minimum of three months. It is usual for the implant to take 3-6 months to heal, but in some cases, it may take even longer. During this time, your dentist will call you for X-rays and visual examinations to ensure that the bone is healing gradually without any signs of infection or complication.
Abutment Placement
An abutment is a small metal extension that protrudes from the gum over which the tooth crown is placed. Abutment placement can be done with implant surgery or after a second visit under local anesthesia.
Crown Placement
The crown is the visible part of the tooth you see in the mouth. Once your dental implant has healed completely, your dentist will take an impression of your mouth to make a crown for you. You can opt for a removable or permanent tooth. A removable tooth is mounted on the abutment and can be removed easily at home. A permanent tooth is, however, either screwed or cemented to the abutment and cannot be removed.
Risks
Every invasive procedure carries risks, and dental implant surgery is no different. However, complications are not very common; even when they occur, they are minor and can be treated easily. Following are some of the risks one may face following a dental implant surgery:
- Infection after the surgery at the implant site
- Injury to the structures present around the area of dental implants, such as adjacent teeth, tissues or blood vessels
- Nerve damage which may result in numbness, pain or tingling around the implant site, gums, lips or even chin
- Penetration of dental implants of the upper jaw into the sinus cavity
What To Expect After The Surgery?
Getting dental implants will require you to take great care of your oral health and implant site following mouth rehabilitation. Here are a few things that you can expect to see after your dental implant surgery.
Sutures
Once the implant is placed into its designated position, the gums tissue over the area is stitched back into place. The suture material used for this purpose can be absorbable or non-absorbable. If the former material is used, the sutures dissolve in a couple of days, and the doctor removes the remaining at your subsequent follow-up. If the sutures are non-absorbable, all of them will have to be removed by your dentist, depending upon the rate of your healing.
Bleeding
Bleeding following implant surgery is common and should not be a concern. The bleeding will likely continue for hours but won’t be excessive.
The ideal way to assess the amount of bleeding is by looking at the surgical site instead of wiping it with a gauze or cloth and then checking. It is also customary to notice traces of blood mixed in your saliva for a couple of days following the surgery.
Swelling
Swelling is another symptom you might notice but shouldn’t be concerned about. It is a natural bodily response to surgery and healing, which may show up 24 hours after your dental implant surgery and continue to increase for the following 2 to 3 days. After three days, the swelling decreases but may take around a week to ten days to resolve completely.
Pain And Medication
Pain after the surgery is common, and your doctor will likely prescribe you medication to help you manage the pain and discomfort after the procedure. The pain can last for 3 to 5 days. However, it is not of the unbearable kind. Contact your doctor if you experience excessive pain that cannot be managed with the prescribed medication.
Care Following Dental Implant Surgery
Good care following your dental implant surgery is crucial. This allows the optimal condition for implant integration in the jawbone. Here are a few things you can do to ensure the process goes smoothly.
- Bite gently over a damp gauze for about a minute to stop bleeding. If the bleeding doesn’t stop, place it for another 30 minutes.
- Do not pull at your sutures. This disturbs the wound and stops it from healing properly. If you want to get them removed, contact your dentist.
- Apply an ice pack over the swollen area, outside on the face. Make sure to alternate between keeping the ice pack on for 20 minutes and off for 20 minutes. After the first 48 hours, you can use a warm and moist compress for the swelling.
- Follow your doctor’s instructions for the medication prescribed. The first dose of pain reliever is advised to be taken before the anesthesia wears off to minimise discomfort. Do not exceed the recommended dosage, as it may have adverse effects.
- While the numbness persists, hot foods should be avoided. Once it wears off, soft foods and chewing away from the implant site are recommended.
- For the best possible results, clean your mouth with a soft-bristle toothbrush and toothpaste after every meal, starting the day after your surgery.
- Limit your activity for the first 48 hours after surgery, and try to relax as much as possible.
Wrapping It Up
Implant and cosmetic dentistry have provided excellent options for replacing missing natural teeth. Dental implants offer the basis to restore function following tooth loss and give you a new smile that you can wear confidently. The process of getting dental implants may be long, but it is definitely worth the time and financial investment.
References
Everything to Know About a Dental Implant Procedure
https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-oral-health/dental-implant-procedure
Dental Implant Surgery
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/dental-implant-surgery/about/pac-20384622
Wound Healing Around Dental Implants
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/etp.12018
Dental Implants
https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/dental-implants