Dental Implants And What To Expect From Them

If your dentist has prescribed a dental implant, you may not know what to expect from the device or its installation. Here is a bit of information about dental implants to help you better understand them.

What Is an Implant Made Of?

Dental implants are usually fashioned from titanium metal. Titanium is considered biocompatible, which means that it does not elicit an immunological response from the body. Thus, the body is unlikely to reject a device made from this metal.

How Is an Implant Installed?

The dentist places a dental implant during an outpatient surgical procedure that is typically performed in the dental office.

During the dental implant placement, the dentist numbs the site of the insertion. As a result, there is no discomfort as the dentist cuts the gingival tissue and inserts the dental implant through the gums and into the bone of the jaw.

Does an Implant Wound Take a Long Time to Heal?

As long as there are no infections or other complications, a dental implant wound heals over the course of a few months. During that time, a process called osseointegration occurs. Osseointegration is the integration of the device with the bone of the jaw.

Is the Restoration of the Tooth Complete After the Placement of the Dental implant?

After a dental implant is placed, the device still has to be covered. As a result, once the initial implant wound is healed, the dentist adds an abutment or connector to the device. Subsequently, the implant and its abutment are covered by a dental crown for a single-tooth restoration or a multi-teeth appliance, such as an implant-supported denture if multiple teeth are being restored.

Are There Special Precautions That Should be Taken to Care for a Dental Implant?

A dental implant is basically cared for in the same manner as a natural tooth. Thus, it is important to keep the area around the implant clean through regular brushing and flossing.

Like the area around a natural tooth, the gums around a dental implant can become inflamed if plaque is not regularly removed from the area. The inflammation of the gums that surround a dental implant is called periimplantitis.

Additionally, implants should be protected from trauma. Thus, if you suffer from bruxism, be sure to wear your mouthguard nightly. Also, if you participate in a contact sport in which a blow to the mouth is common, a sports guard should be worn when you participate.

To learn more about dental implants, schedule a consultation with a dentist in your local area.