Getting dental implants can be a bit scary but rest assured it is completely safe. While some think getting implants is done in one procedure, it actually takes several, so you need to keep that in mind beforehand. Around 500,000 people in the United States alone get dental implants each year, and several million actually need them.
Thankfully, implant-supported restorations have gotten more and more advanced over the years. Here at Smile Family Dentistry, we can help you get your dental implants with ease with our highly skilled and professional dentists. However, some of the work will fall on your shoulders, as there are a few things you need to do to prepare.
The first thing you need to do before getting implants is to get your teeth evaluated by a dentist. If you are missing a tooth, then it is likely you can get implants. However, some patients may need supplementation with medicine or antibiotics before they get their procedures. Your dentist will perform the check-up using x-rays and some tests for your teeth.
After you are cleared for having a dental implant procedure, you can make the process a bit easier for yourself beforehand. First, you should clear your schedule for the day following the procedure. Even though the procedure itself is risk-free and harmless, you will experience a bit of swelling and soreness, so you will need to rest.
Second, be prepared to change your diet. Following your procedure, you will only be able to eat soft foods for a while. You can get started on the all-soft-food diet before your procedure to get used to it.
Last but not least, if you are going to be sedated, you will need to fast for 12 hours before the procedure. This is because sedation temporarily shuts down your body’s reflexes, so the food in your stomach may come back up. It is also important to sleep well beforehand, so your body is in the best condition.
Dental implant surgery is a routine procedure with today’s medical advancements, and can be done in under an hour. For your first procedure, you can expect to lose the damaged tooth you are implanting. Your dentist will use an anesthetic so you do not feel pain. Grafting will be done next.
Grafting is basically preparing your jaw and adding some density to it to account for the loss of bone. This is not always needed; if you have adequate jaw height, your dentist will skip this step.
After preparation, your dentist will then place the implant and make sure it is secured in the jawbone. Your dentist will have made a cut in your gums to do all of this, so at the end, that incision will be closed up, and sometimes, you may need temporary dentures. This is the end of the first procedure.
Once the metal post has fused with the gum tissue, you will go back to your dentist so they can make another small incision, exposing the implant and then adding the crown or abutment before closing everything up again.
Overall, dental implant surgeries are extremely hassle-free. If you prepare ahead of time and schedule your examinations, you will not have to worry about anything but making it to the surgery on time. At Smile Family Dentistry, we provide implant-supported restorations that can last you a lifetime. To book a consultation appointment, call us at 925-825-1130.