Careful Handling Of Dental Implants.

Suffering trauma to the mouth might result in the knocking out of one or more teeth, hence affecting appearance and self-esteem. Cosmetic dental surgery has however come to the rescue with the advent of dental implants.

A dental implant is a surgical cosmetic device that is placed into the jawbone and allowed to fuse with the bone for a few months, to act as a replacement for the root of a missing tooth. This is done via dental surgery done by doctors specialized to carry out such procedures.

Why Do I Need A Dental Implant?

A dental implant is a cosmetic device that serves several purposes and you are a candidate for dental implants if you:

• Have one or more missing teeth
• Are unable or unwilling to wear dentures
• Want to improve your speech
• Don’t have health conditions that will affect bone healing.

Types Of Dental Implants.

There are both partial and full mouth dental implants, which could be any of the following types viz Endosteal, subperiosteal and zygomatic. Endosteal is the safest and commonest, with zygomatic being rarely used. They are very effective and quite affordable dental implants.

How Does A Dental Implant Work?

Dental implants are surgically placed in the jawbone, serving as the roots of missing teeth. The titanium in the implants is fused with the jawbone, and so the implants won’t slip, make noise, or cause bone damage the way fixed bridgework or dentures might. Also, the materials can’t and won’t decay like natural teeth wherein supportive regular bridgework can.

Should in case your dentist recommends a dental implant, the first step in the dental implant process is the development of an individualized treatment plan. This plan addresses your specific needs and is prepared by a team of professionals who are specially trained and experienced in oral surgery and restorative dentistry.

Next, the tooth root implant, which is a small post made of titanium, is placed into the bone socket of the missing tooth. As the jawbone heals, it grows around the implanted metal post, anchoring it securely in the jaw. The healing process can take from six to 12 weeks. Once the implant has bonded to the jawbone, a small connector post — called an abutment — is attached to the post to securely hold the new tooth. To make the new tooth or teeth, your dentist makes impressions of your teeth and creates a model of your bite (which captures all of your teeth, their type, and arrangement). The new tooth or teeth is based on this model. A replacement tooth, called a crown, is then attached to the abutment.

Most often, your dentist also will match the color of the new teeth to your natural teeth and because the implant is secured within the jawbone, the replacement teeth look, feel, and function just like your own natural teeth.

Caring and Handling Dental Implants.

It is important to take care of your implants after the procedure because, while dental implant surgery might be affordable, it would be best to do it just once and for all, as the average cost of dental implants cost is $3000 to $5000, which includes the cost for the post, abutment and crown placement.

So, the best thing is to have the implants done once and to adhere to the instructions of your dentist as regards the implant post-care.

After surgery, you should take a day or two to recover. Swelling and discomfort for the first 24 hours are normal. Bite on sponges that were placed in your mouth to control bleeding for at least one hour and up to three hours. Sit with your head elevated and avoid moving excessively for eight to 12 hours and eat and drink only soft foods and liquids for the first 48 hours after surgery.

Take all prescribed medicines as your dentist has directed.

For the first 24 hours, don’t rinse your mouth. Then, after meals, gently rinse your mouth with warm saltwater. Dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in one glass of warm water.

For long-term care, brushing, flossing, rinsing and a schedule of regular dentist visits are essential to maintain the implants’ appearance and reduce the chances of failure. You can use the toothpaste, toothbrush, and floss used for natural teeth to clean dental implants.