Missing a tooth is not one of the best feelings for any of us. However, there are tooth replacement procedures that are available to ensure that you regain your smile, even after missing one or more teeth. If you lose a tooth, you may want to consider obtaining a dental implant. Dental implants provide a more natural tooth replacement than most of the other solutions like bridges and dentures. Why? Implants are attached directly to the jawbone, they literally become a part of you.
The dental implant timeline varies from one patient to another. It depends on the current condition and complexity of the dental issues of a patient. The timeline may extend if one has other dental complications. Usually, the timeline may take more than six months. If you are looking for dental implants near you, your dentist is most likely to encourage you to have realistic expectations as well as commit to the treatment. Below is an explanation of the dental implant timeline.
The Initial Consultation
During a consultation with a dentist near you, the dentist will evaluate the health of your teeth to detect any concerns such as gum disease. The dentist will first treat any existing dental problems before commencing your dental implant procedures. In many instances, your dentist may also perform a medical history evaluation to collect all the facts on your previous oral troubles. At this phase, a dentist may also carry out advanced imaging to establish the quality and quantity of your jawbone. The X-ray may also determine the health of the remaining natural teeth.
The Pre-Procedure Exam
After an initial consultation at a dental clinic in Edmonton, a dentist will perform any other necessary preparatory procedures. Mostly, the most common preliminary surgeries include bone grafting and sinus lifts. Nonetheless, not all patients will undergo bone augmentation before implants. These procedures come in handy if a patient has a degenerated jawbone or poor density.
The length of each procedure will vary from one patient to another. Each procedure will typically take no more than two hours. After these procedures, a patient may require approximately six months for the jawbone to heal before scheduling implant surgery.
Modeling of Implant Crowns
As mentioned above, the recovery period for patients who have acquired dental implants in Edmonton will vary from patient to patient. Most patients may be ready to receive a permanent restoration after six months. At this stage, the dentist makes models of the dental structure and designs your custom crowns. Of course, the restorations will be customized to fit your desired features.
Implant Placement
After being certain that the jawbone has healed, a dentist can place the dental implants. The length of the procedure depends on how many implants the dentist is placing. Typically, this is supposed to last approximately one to four hours. In case your dentist is following a surgical guide to complete surgery, this can reduce the length of the procedure.
The Post-Procedure Checkups
For a traditional dental implant, it may take about four to six months for the jawbone to fuse with the implant posts. The process is called Osseointegration. This is mainly the healing phase where a patient should have follow-up appointments with a dentist. This helps the dentist monitor a patient’s progress effectively and ensure safe and speedy healing.
Once recovery is complete, a patient may return to have a custom-made restoration installed. Even so, the dentist will check restorations for any adjustments. If there is none, he or she will attach your new teeth to the implants. Afterwards, you will leave the office with full dental functionality and an attractive smile.
Visit us at Agape Dental for more information if you would like to regain your smile with dental implants.
