How Does A Tooth Implant Work To Replace A Missing Tooth?

A dental implant procedure is made up of a series of mini procedures to replace a missing tooth. Each patient is unique and follows their own timeline for getting dental implants. A dentist that offers consultation will be able to tell you how long your procedure could take. In this post, we are going to explain how does a tooth implant work.

How Does A Tooth Implant Work?

When most patients think of dental implants, they imagine a happy person with a full arch of healthy teeth. However, dental implants are actually invisible once they have been placed. The part you can see is a dental crown, which is the last stage in the dental implant procedure.

A tooth implant works by replacing missing tooth roots in your gums. Dental implants need to be surgically placed in a dental implant procedure, which your dentist will do by cutting into your gum and drilling holes into your jawbone before implanting the titanium posts.

The function of dental implants is to replace missing tooth roots. They are the foundation onto which the other components (the abutment and the dental crown) are fixed.

How Does A Tooth Implant Work To Replace A Missing Tooth

Once dental implants have been surgically embedded into your jaw, the jawbone grows around them and integrates them. This process is called osseointegration, and it is what makes them extremely strong and durable – almost as strong as your natural teeth. It is this feature that classifies dental implants as permanent tooth replacements. Once your dental implant procedure is complete, you will be able to use them to bite and chew with the same force as your natural teeth – and you should not be able to see or feel any difference.

How Does The Dental Implant Procedure Work?

Once you have had a dental consultation near you, your dental practitioner will provide you with a treatment plan and cost estimate for your tooth implants. It will outline all of the steps to be followed and a timeline. It may include

Tooth Extraction

If you have a damaged or decayed tooth in your mouth, it will need to be extracted before you have a tooth implant. Patients who need tooth extractions may need to wait for 10 weeks for the inflammation to heal before they can proceed with dental implant surgery.

Bone Grafting

If your tooth has been missing for a while, you may have experienced bone loss below the site. This occurs because of the absence of tooth roots. If you meet all the other eligibility criteria for tooth implants, your dental practitioner may perform a bone graft. If you have a bone graft, you can expect to wait for another three to four months before you can proceed with dental implant surgery.

If you do not need either of these two procedures, your tooth implant process will follow this sequence:

Placement Of The Dental Implants

Depending on the number of implants you need and the complexity of your procedure, placement of the tooth implants usually takes an hour or two in your dentist’s chair. Once the titanium posts have been placed, you can expect to go through a healing period of two to three months.

Placement Of The Abutment

Once your dentist is satisfied with your healing and osseointegration has taken place, it is time to place the abutment. The abutment is a connecting piece that goes between the implant and your dental crown. In order to fit it, your dentist must reopen the surgical site.

After this is done, you will need to undergo another healing period so your soft tissue can recover. Your dentist will fit a temporary crown for you to wear during this period.

Fitting Your Dental Crown

Once your gums have healed well, you will return to your dentist for the placement of your permanent crown.

Caring For Your Dental Implant

It is important that you follow excellent oral hygiene standards to care for your restoration and remaining natural teeth. You will need to brush twice a day and floss every day to keep the plaque in your mouth under control. It is also vital that you visit your dentist twice a year to make sure your tooth implant is in good condition. Regular dental checkups and professional cleaning could help you to avoid future decay and tooth loss.

For a more personal explanation of ‘how does a tooth implant work’, to find out if you are a candidate for dental implants, or to get a consultation at your local dental clinic, please contact us at (02) 8203 8760.

References

Dental implant surgery
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/dental-implant-surgery/about/pac-20384622

What Are Dental Implants
https://www.colgate.com/en-za/oral-health/implants/what-are-dental-implants