People all over are talking about the miracle of dental implants Stockton and how they can help patients from all walks of life improve their smiles as well as their confidence. Whether patients are missing a single tooth due to an accident or decay or they want a whole new set of teeth, implants have become the answer to everyone’s problems with their teeth, or lack of them. But with so much buzz on this procedure, do people really understand what it’s all about, or do they simply have a vague idea that titanium is involved somehow? This article hopes to unpack the procedure and the stages of treatment that can be expected by someone getting implants so that there is no mystery around this life-changing treatment.
The stages of treatment
From start to finish, the procedure for dental implants can take up to about 6 months so it is important for patients going in for this procedure to know that it won’t happen overnight and a little patience on their part is required as much of the process of securing implants is up to the body.
Stage 1 – Implants
First, before any work is to take place, the mouth is numbed by a local anesthetic so that the patients will feel no discomfort during the procedure. Once the numbing has taken effect a small titanium screw that acts as the root of the tooth is inserted into the bone of the dental arch and then an abutment is fitted to the screw. While the screw is embedded into the bone, the abutment sits above the gum. If a tooth needed to be extracted before the implant could be placed then the implant will go directly into that hole instead of the dentist needing to drill a hole. It takes about 15 minutes to set a single implant, so those having 4 should expect the process to take more than an hour.
Stage 2 – Healing
After the abutment is fitted then the patient will be given a temporary bridge or set of dentures to wear while they go home and await the healing process. During this process the natural bone will grow around and fuse with the implant, thus securing it in place and making it strong enough to support the real and permanent false teeth which are being custom made by a dental technician to be ready for stage 3.
Stage 3 – The Teeth
The dentures or permanent bridges that have been designed and created in a lab to fit snugly to a particular patient are then fitted to the abutment which was set into the implant back in stage 1. Dentists will ensure that the teeth are comfortable and functional before sending a patient on their way to live their best life.
Stage 4 – Care
Although these teeth and implants cannot get infected because of the materials they are made from, it is still very important that patients take good care of their oral health as gum disease is still as much of a risk as before and bad breath can still occur. It is up to the patients to go back to the dentist every 2 years in order for them to check up on the integrity of the implants and false teeth.
