Missing teeth issue is common in the United States as millions of people suffer from it due to a dental injury, decay, or infection. Tooth loss makes our smile look incomplete and unattractive. What’s more, these problems make it difficult for your teeth to function correctly. If not treated timely, missing teeth can lead to bone deterioration and further tooth loss. But fortunately, dental implants in Sugar Land, TX, save the day! You can avoid all these problems, restore your smile, and make it look beautiful again with the help of these implants. Dental implants are highly durable, and if taken care of, they can last a lifetime.
Let’s talk about dental implant installation in detail.
What is the Dental Implant Installation?
Dental implants are titanium posts fused into your jawbone to function like your natural tooth root. Depending on how complex your dental issue is, the time an implant procedure takes can range from a single visit to a year-long process.
Initial consultation
Before starting the procedure, your dentist will need an X-ray and take impressions of your teeth. They will review your medical history and evaluate your oral health. If you have any condition like gum disease, that needs to be done before starting your implant process. If everything looks OK, let’s proceed to the next step.
Extractions
If you have a damaged tooth that didn’t fall out on its own, your dentist may need to extract that. This step duration depends on several factors. For example, you may need oral surgery if you have an impacted tooth. This step will cost more for more complex cases, and the recovery period will vary depending on your unique case.
Bone grafting
This step is required when a patient’s jawbone is not strong enough to support the implant. In this procedure, your dentist will typically take a bone from a part of your body and graft that into your jawbone. This procedure takes from 4 to 12 months and often needs several follow-up visits to ensure healing is progressing correctly.
Dental Implant Surgery
The surgery involves several steps, and your dentist will discuss sedation options with you before starting any work. Your dentist will make a cut in your gums and expose the jawbone. They will then drill a hole to insert the implant into your bone. Then, your dentist will wait for your bone and implant to fuse together. It can take a week or several weeks for the incision to heal. During the healing period, osseointegration will take place.
Osseointegration
This process involves the fusing of tissues around the post and your jawbone. The body won’t reject the implant because it’s a biocompatible material. Smoking can create problems in osseointegration, which takes 3-6 months, so you need to avoid smoking during this period.
Abutment placement
Once your gums are healed, your dentist will place the abutment onto your implant. This will help secure the crown to cover the gap and give you a complete, attractive smile.
Finishing the process
Placement of the permanent crowns is the last step of your implant installation. Once your mouth is fully healed, osseointegration is complete, and your permanent artificial tooth is fabricated, it’s time for you to place the crown and enjoy your restored smile.
If you are interested in dental implant procedures or want to learn more about them, please contact Sugar Land Smile Center. We look forward to seeing you and working with you.
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