Dental implants are an excellent alternative to other dental treatments that replace lost and damaged teeth. Dental implants provide a permanent remedy to missing teeth, which is one reason why they are growing in popularity. However, the process for receiving dental implants is long and you must be a good candidate for the procedure, making the option of dental implants not right for everyone.
Before Getting Dental Implants
Your first step is to schedule an appointment with your dentist to determine if you are a good candidate for this procedure. Candidates for
dental implants / implant dentistry need to be in overall good health and you will have to have healthy bone structure in your jaw and healthy teeth and gums.
Your dentist will also discuss the procedure at length to determine if you are dedicated to the long process involved with getting implants, as the entire procedure can take up to a year to complete depending on the extent of your treatment.
During Dental Implant Surgery
Dental implants actually require two separate surgical procedures unlike other tooth replacement methods where no surgery is involved. The first part of the surgery involves putting the implant rods into the jaw bone. This is a very invasive surgery and healing from this treatment can be a bit painful. Complete healing of this first surgery generally takes about three to six months, though it can take substantially longer as well.
The next surgery is when the prosthetic teeth are actually attached to the titanium rod. This procedure is not nearly as invasive as the first surgery, but it still must be taken very seriously.
After the Dental Implant Surgery
You will have detailed instructions provided to you by your dentist that you will need to follow to ensure there are no complications after surgery. It is possible that your body may reject the initial implant rod, however this will usually occur in the months following the first surgery rather than after the teeth are put into place.
For the first few weeks after the surgery, your dentist may recommend a soft food diet, and will provide medication if necessary to treat any discomfort or pain you are experiencing.
For more information on implant dentistry as well as
porcelain veneers,
porcelain crowns,
smile makeover options,
teeth whitening and bleaching, and more, it is important to visit a skilled
cosmetic dentist serving Houston and Harris County.