A Guide to the Dental Implant Procedure
90% of Australians, unfortunately, experience some form of tooth decay and this is the leading reason that people have a dental implant procedure done. Tooth decay and poor oral health can lead to infection, consistent pain, and even loss of your teeth. If you neglect dental care, you could experience trouble with eating comfortably and even speaking normally.
The main feature that gets Australians excited about dental implants is the fact that they aren’t susceptible to decay but many aren’t sure what to expect from the procedure itself. Keep reading as we explain how the process works and how you’ll benefit from it.
What Are Dental Implants Exactly?
So, what are dental implant options? Dental implants act as your normal teeth but they are medical devices that are implanted into the jawbone. It acts as an anchor since it’s an artificial tooth root that replaces your natural root.
It helps to optimise dental care by replacing unhealthy teeth and the best part is that with proper care, you can expect them to last for a lifetime. Dental implant surgery helps people to improve their smiles and restore their confidence. The implant can last for a lifetime with good dental health, care and maintenance but the crown may only last about 10 to 15 years, this depends on many factors such as how a patient bites, teeth grinding and clenching.
Replacement of the crown will be based on the wear of it. Overall, dental implants work to restore the functionality of teeth and not only their appearance meaning that you will regain comfort and start the process of enhancing your oral care.
Why Are Dental Implants Needed?
If you have missing teeth or you’re experiencing tooth decay causing you discomfort and pain, dental implant surgery might be the best solution. If you don’t want to opt-in for dentures or bridges, which don’t last nearly as long as implants, having this procedure done will give you an option that is more reliable, natural-looking, and long-lasting.
The Process: How the Dental Implant Procedure Works
The dental implant procedure itself only takes one to two hours to complete. After your consultation with a trusted dentist or dental specialist, the procedure will be scheduled. At the start of the process, any damaged teeth where an implant will be placed will be removed.
Grafting will be done when needed which is a part of preparing the jaw bone for the implants. The grafting process is what’s done to add density and volume to the actual jaw. This helps to fix any areas where bone loss occurred.
After the jaw bone has been prepped, the placement of the dental implant can occur and growing bone happens through the grafting process. Dental implants may also need to be delayed if the graft requires significant time to mature and heal, leading to a waiting period of about 4 months before the implants can be safely placed where the grafting was performed. After the implant has healed in place, again it is typical to wait 4 months, a dentist will then make an impression or a mould of the teeth are made in order to fabricate the new crown/artificial replacement that will be supported by the implant. The tooth will then be installed and there is usually only a few days of downtime before you can return to your regular routines after the dental implant process.
Getting the Smile You Deserve
Sometimes having a dental implant procedure done is necessary. To enhance your health and get more out of your oral healthcare, The Bondi Dentists are there to make it possible for you. Our office has developed a strong working relationship with dental specialists around Sydney who can help provide the surgical dental implant services required for your new implant supported teeth. We look forward to helping in this process and seeing you for the building of new smiles through your dental implants.
Your dental care can impact the way you live your life so it’s important to find the solution that gives you the best quality of life possible. Schedule a consultation with us today to get started.