What To Expect When You Get Dental Implants To Replace Missing Teeth
The length of your dental implant surgery and what you can expect during your recovery will depend on a number of factors. The tooth you need to replace, the number of teeth involved, and your overall dental health are factors to consider. The entire process can take six months or more, as the titanium rod needs to implant into your jaw bone permanently before the implantation is complete. Your ability to heal from the surgery and whether there is an extraction or bone graph to be done first will all impact the length of time it takes to recover. Talk to your dentist about your oral health and what you can expect when you get dental implants.
Sedation and Your Dental Implants
You might have dental implant surgery done under IV sedation or with an oral medication to help you stay calm. The process can be uncomfortable, but you shouldn't experience significant pain from a dental implant. If you are only having one tooth replaced, the process is only going to take an hour or so. You will have an implant placed into your jaw bone, where it will then be covered by a few stitches in your gum to protect the implant. This is the first step in treatment, and it will generally take a few months for the implant to heal in place.
Once Your Implant Heals
Once your implant is successfully healed in your mouth, it's time to get fitted for a crown. Your dentist will take impressions of your teeth in order to make a crown that fits perfectly with the rest of your teeth. The crown will be securely attached to the titanium rod, creating a natural-looking tooth. Your dentist will work to create a tooth that fits comfortably and may try the crown first before securing it permanently.
After Your Implant Surgery
You can expect mild discomfort after dental implant surgery that can be treated with over-the-counter pain medication. You shouldn't have any problem returning to work, and you may have some slight bruising or swollen gums. It may be more difficult to eat while your implant heals, and you will want to stay away from hard to chew foods.
Dental implant surgery is an excellent way to restore your mouth when you are missing teeth. The process takes six to nine months, but in the end, you have a permanent solution to missing teeth.
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