More than 3 million Australians are missing at least a third of their teeth. Missing teeth can significantly impact your oral health and quality of life. Without the support of a complete set of teeth, your remaining teeth can shift out of place, making it difficult to chew and speak properly.
Dental implants are the only permanent way to replace missing teeth. The procedure involves placing a small titanium screw in the jawbone, which acts as a replacement for the natural tooth root. If you are considering getting dental implants to replace your missing teeth, it is crucial to understand what to expect from dental implants before and after treatment so that you can make an informed decision for your oral health.
What to Expect From Dental Implants Before and After Treatment?
Dental implants are one of the most popular options for replacing missing teeth. The dental implant process occurs in stages to allow your body time to heal and to ensure the bone fuses correctly with the implant post.
The stages of the dental implant process include:
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Initial Consultation
The first step is to schedule an initial consultation with your dentist. During this visit, your dentist thoroughly examines your mouth and teeth to assess whether you are a good candidate for implants.
Dental X-rays and CT scans may be taken to get a more detailed view of your mouth. Once your dentist has gathered all the essential information, they will create a personalised treatment plan. They will go over the risks and benefits of a dental implant and answer any questions you may have.
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Preparatory Surgery
If your dentist finds that you have inadequate jawbone density or a low sinus membrane during the initial consultation, you may need to undergo preparatory surgery. This may involve bone grafting or a sinus lift procedure.
A bone graft uses bone tissue from another area of your mouth, donor tissue, or synthetic tissue to increase the bone density in your jaw.
A sinus lift procedure may be needed for dental implants in the upper jaw. This involves lifting the sinus membrane and adding bone grafting material to build enough bone volume to support the implant.
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Implant Placement Surgery
Dental implant surgery is typically performed under local anaesthesia. However, if you have dental anxiety or a complex case with multiple implants, we offer inhalation sedation, which uses nitrous oxide to help you feel calm and comfortable.
During the surgery, your dentist incises the gum tissue to expose the bone. Then, they drill a tiny hole in the jawbone and insert the implant post. The implant post features screw-like threads and a growth matrix film to help it fuse with the jawbone. Your dentist then sutures your wound and places a healing cap over the site to protect the wound from debris.
You can expect some swelling and bruising after surgery and mild discomfort after the anaesthesia wears off. These symptoms should resolve within a few days to a week.
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Abutment Placement Surgery
The abutment is a small metal connector piece that is placed on top of the implant. For the abutment placement, the dentist re-opens the gum tissue and secures the connector to the implant surface. They close the gum tissue around but not over the abutment.
Once the abutment is in place, it will be used to connect the dental prosthetic (false tooth) to the implant. Abutment placement surgery is generally a quick and straightforward procedure that can be performed in your dentist’s office.
This surgery is usually performed under local anaesthesia, and you can go home the same day.
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Adding the Restoration
There are several types of dental implant restorations. The All-on-4 dental implant procedure uses four implants, two at the back of the dental arch and two placed at an angle towards the front of the dental arch, to support a denture plate.
This implant procedure is usually recommended for patients with an entire arch of damaged or missing teeth.
The single dental crown procedure involves placing one tooth in the jawbone to support a single false tooth.
At No Gaps Dental, we offer CEREC (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics) crowns to place on top of dental implants.
CEREC uses computer-aided design and computer-aided milling (CAD/CAM) to create custom restorations in one appointment.
How to Care for Your Dental Implants After Surgery?
It is essential to care for your dental implant to ensure its success. Your dentist will provide you with some aftercare instructions to help support your recovery and reduce the risk of post-surgical complications. Your aftercare instructions may include:
- Resting with your head elevated on a pillow and avoiding strenuous activity that involves bending or lifting heavy items
- Eating soft foods to avoid irritating the implant site
- Using an ice pack to reduce swelling and pain and slow down bleeding
- Taking over-the-counter medications
- Brushing and flossing your natural teeth twice a day
- Rinsing with saline solution to eliminate bacteria
Potential Complications After Dental Implant Surgery
Some common complications associated with dental implant surgery include peri-implantitis, implant rejection, implant overloading, and nerve damage.
Symptoms of these complications can include pain, swelling, bruising, and bleeding at the surgical site. Contact your dentist immediately if you experience any of these symptoms after implant surgery. With prompt treatment, most implant complications can be resolved without further damage to your oral health.
Achieve a Winning Smile with No Gaps Dental
We want to help you achieve a healthy smile at No Gaps Dental. Dental implants are a natural-looking, long-lasting solution to missing teeth that can restore your smile and oral health.
Contact us today on (02) 8007 6727 or book an appointment to learn more about the benefits of dental implants and what to expect from dental implants before and after surgery.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
References
Dental implant procedure
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/dental-implant
Dental implant maintenance teaching in Australia-A survey of education providers
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31977128/
Dental services
https://nt.gov.au/wellbeing/hospitals-health-services/dental-services
Millions Of Aussies Missing Teeth Due To Sugar Rotting
https://www.hit.com.au/story/millions-of-aussies-missing-teeth-due-to-sugar-rotting-101354