Dental Implants Procedure: Is it Safe?

Dental implants are common alternatives to bringing back a person’s pearly whites. A
dental implant is similar to a natural tooth that is surgically placed into the gum line
allowing the dentist to install replacement teeth. But what really happens in dental
implants procedure? Let us look at the process.

Consultation with Your Doctor

The first step in the process is meeting your dental implant dentist for initial check-up. At
this time, a complete dental exam will be conducted such as taking an X-ray of the
mouth and impressions of the teeth. Thereafter, your dentist might talk about
recommending a treatment plan, discussing the steps of the dental implant procedure,
the timeline, and recovery plan. Whether or not a bone graft is needed will also be
discussed by your dentist. From this initial consultation comes the very first stage of the
process.

Bone Graft and Tooth Removal

Bone grafting involves a surgical procedure used in fixing bone or joint problems in the
jaw and mouth area. The surgeon will remove a section of bone from another area of
your body or obtain a special bone graft material and place it into your jaw bone. The
success of the bone grafting will determine if your jaw bone is tough enough to support
the dental implant. The dentist will then remove the damaged tooth, if applicable.

Placing the Implant

This time you are ready for the implant. An implant is a metal screw that is mounted into
the bone and serves as an anchor for the dental prosthesis. Implant placement can take
up to two hours but you will be asleep throughout the whole process due to the
anesthesia. After the implant is placed in the jaw bone, the healing stage can last up to
seven months for the lower and upper jaws. Once the healing process is done, the next
stage will begin.

Healing Collar or Temporary Crown Placement

Following the fusion of the implants and your jawbone, the next stage is to get a healing
collar or temporary crown if possible. The healing collar or healing cap will be placed by
your dentist on the implant’s head. This will help in guiding the gum to heal. A healing
collar is a piece of round metal which keeps the gums from the implant and stays on for
up to fourteen days. After this, the tissue should be healing and then your dentist has to
remove it.

Abutment and Permanent Crown Placement

The abutment is screwed into the implant in order to support the crown. When the
abutment is placed, the dentist has to take an impression of the abutment for every
tooth replacement. During this stage, a temporary crown will be installed while the
tissues are healing around the artificial tooth. The temporary crown will be worn for up
to six weeks.

After a maximum of six weeks to heal, the temporary crown will be replaced by a
permanent crown. The crown can either be screwed or cemented into the abutment.
Your dentist can then choose between the two main types of crown. These are the
removable crown and fixed crown. Removable crowns are made of white and pink
plastic simulating natural teeth which can be removed for everyday cleaning. Fixed
crowns are also artificial teeth that are permanently screwed or cemented into the
abutment. This cannot be removed but is stronger and more stable than removable
crowns.

Some Safety Considerations

Now that you know the basic process of dental implant, the question of safety comes
into the picture. Dental implant procedure can happen over a number of visits to your
dentist lasting for weeks and months, depending on the requirements of the dentist.

The probability of developing an infection is very rare; however, the risk is still there.
Possible teeth, sinuses, and blood vessel injury are added risks which have to be taken
into consideration although most patients have successful implants over the years.

The patient’s habits also matter after a dental implant procedure. Thus, it is best that the
patient takes good care of his or her oral health. Regular trips to the dentist also help in
keeping any complication away after a dental implant. Basically, dental implant surgery
is a comfortable and safe alternative to traditional dentures in replacing damaged teeth
or roots.