The Stages of the Dental Implant Process
When you are missing one tooth or many teeth, you know that it can alter the beauty of your smile. But did you realize that it can also have a major impact on your overall dental health? Many people don't realize this since the dental health problems occur over a few months to a few years. For one, teeth adjacent to the tooth gap can start to shift in position and become loose. In addition, both gum recession and the loss of bone matter in the area of the gap are common. The best way to prevent both of these from occurring is to get dental implants.
The team at our Troy cosmetic dentistry center would like to take a few moments right now to look at the dental implants process and how long it takes to complete.
About Dental Implants
Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that are surgically placed into your jawbone and gum tissue. By doing this, a secure hold is achieved comparable to natural tooth roots.
Best Candidates for Dental Implants
Our Troy cosmetic dentists will carefully screen each patient to ensure that they are well-suited for dental implants. In general, the best candidates for dental implants are people who have sufficient bone tissue and gum tissue in the area of the tooth gap. This is necessary to support the dental implant when it's in place.
Let's now look at the steps of the implant dentistry process and how long the whole procedure can take.
First Step - Oral Surgery
Once someone is considered a good candidate for Troy dental implants, that person can undergo the initial oral surgery. This will involve incisions made in the gum area and the dental implant being anchored into place.
Second Step - Healing and Osseointegration
Healing is by far the longest part of the dental implants process. Once the initial incision has mended, the dental implant must become fused with the soft tissues as well as the jawbone. This is known as osseointegration, and it is a common part of many different kinds of implant surgeries.
The reason this can take so long is just to be safe. If the dental implant does not have enough time to fuse properly, it will not be able to support dental bridges, dentures, or dental crowns.
Third Step - Creating the Dental Restoration
The next step is creating the appliance or cap for the dental implant(s). Using the latest in advanced dental care technology and partnering with skilled dental lab technicians, we will be able to craft a restoration that blends in seamlessly with the rest of your smile.
Fourth Step - Placing the Dental Restoration
Once crafted, the dental restoration can be placed. This will be done at the very end of the process.
Overall Treatment Time Required
From start to finish, the dental implants process can take between six to nine months at our cosmetic and restorative dentistry practice. The healing experience of the patient and other factors can dramatically alter this timeline.
Learn More About State-of-the-Art Restorative Dentistry
For more information about dental implants and your many other options for advanced dental care treatment, be sure to contact our Troy, MI cosmetic dentistry center today. During your visit, we will go over all of your options for effective care in great detail so that you can make the most well-informed decision possible.
