If you have decided to get dental implants, you may be wondering what happens during the actual procedure. Understanding the various things that will occur will help set your mind at ease since you will know what to expect. While the procedure may vary depending on the specific type of implant you are getting, there are some general trends to all implant procedures.
To begin, most dental implant procedures can be completed in one appointment. In special cases, you may need to have two or more appointments, but this is rare. After the initial appointment, however, there is a period of osseointegration. Osseointegration refers to the process of the implant anchoring itself to the jaw bone. Most times, this process takes approximately three to six months. Once your implant is completely healed, Dr. Carlos Gonzalez can then place the permanent tooth. It is also important to note that you will feel no discomfort during the procedure. Dental implant surgery is performed as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia.
The implant procedure itself can be divided into two main stages. The first stage deals with prepping the jaw bone for implantation, and the second stage is the placement of the implant. During the first stage, the gums are pulled back to expose the bone so the dentist can drill a pilot hole into the jaw where the implant will go. Once the hole is completed, the second stage of implant placement can begin.
During the second stage, the pilot hole is slowly expanded to meet the size of the implant screw. The implant screw is carefully placed in the hole and then the surrounding gum tissue is stitched up. At this point, osseointegration must occur before additional steps can be taken.
Once the implant has had time to heal, the final steps can occur. In the final steps, an abutment is attached to the implant site. Sometimes this can be done before osseointegration, depending on the stability of the implant. The abutment is the structure that holds to crown to the implant. Once the abutment is attached, the crown can be placed and the procedure is complete. In certain cases, there may be a temporary crown first and then a permanent crown after. The procedure will be completed once the permanent crown is set into the implant.
After the procedure has been completed, you may experience pain or discomfort around the surgical area. This is a normal response to dental implant surgery and can usually be remedied with general painkillers. You may also experience swelling, bruising, and minor bleeding. Dr. Gonzalez will also most likely put you on a special diet of soft foods until your implants are strong enough to bite into harder, tougher foods. Finally, your stitches will most likely be dissolvable, however, they may need to be removed by the dentist.
Most dental implant procedures are successful and yield long-lasting results and benefits for patients. To help your implant procedure go well, it is important that you keep your oral hygiene habits up, continue to visit Dental American Group regularly and avoid damaging habits such as smoking or eating hard foods. As long as you take care of your implants, they will last a long time. Now that’s something to smile about!
