They say that going through life is a series of ups and downs that will make your experience here in this lifetime worthwhile. However, for someone who has missing teeth, challenges might be a bit more difficult to bear—and we are not only talking about taking a hit on your confidence but on everyday things like eating.
Solutions like dental implants have become one of the go-tos for these kinds of issues. If you are considering these implants for yourself, we’re here to guide you on the processes so you can look forward to it with relief.
What Are Dental Implants?
In simple terms, a dental implant is a way to replace a missing tooth by putting a small titanium screw into your jawbone, which acts like a new root. A dentist places this screw and then attaches a new tooth to it. It looks and feels like your real teeth, and if you take good care of it, it can last a long time.
Dental Technology in Hindsight
Dental technology has come a long way, so it leans to a more emphatic response to the needs and wants of the people. High-maintenance dental solutions have become a thing of the past, and dental health has shifted to cater to people with different lifestyles, so people are becoming more aware of taking care of their dental health despite being busy with life. Procedures such as dental implants have given people the chance to live their lives like an accident never happened at all.
Today, advancements like digital impressions, 3D imaging, and laser dentistry have made visits quicker, more precise, and far less invasive. According to this experienced dentist in Seabrook NH, these innovations not only improve accuracy and comfort but also reduce recovery time, making it easier for individuals to prioritise dental care without disrupting their busy routines.
Step-by-Step: The Dental Implant Process
While this process is usual, everyone’s journey to go through it will still be a bit different. So in general, here is what most people follow during the dental implant process:
Initial consultation. At this appointment, your dentist or a specialist for implants will assess how good of a fit your implants will be through different types of equipment to scan your mouth on either X-ray or 3D. The goal here is to check and make sure that your jawbone is strong enough to hold the implant. There will also be other procedures depending on the assessment of your dentist just to make sure that your implants will work just like how your teeth do.
Treatment planning. A treatment plan is a process where you’ll know all the information on the timeline of your procedures as well as the breakdown of the expenses and how you can pay them. The important part of this step is to ensure that everything is clear on both your end and your dentist’s so that the operation will go smoothly.
Preparatory procedures (if needed). Consider yourself lucky if you won’t be going through this procedure, as some take a few weeks and months for the mouth to fully recover. But if you do, don’t worry—prep work like this is needed so that the implant will be the best fit for your set of teeth in the near future.
Placing the implant. Just like any operating procedure, implants will deal with local anaesthesia, incisions, and observations after. Don’t worry, as you won’t feel the pain during the process. The next thing you know, a titanium implant is already in your jawbone, waiting to be fused with your bone through a process called osseointegration.
Abutment placement. An abutment is a small connector that holds your new tooth in place, and this is done after your jaw has healed with the implant secured in place.
Getting the crown. The next step is a bit exciting because this means your new tooth will be attached to the abutment. A few adjustments will be expected before the dentist lets you go, and when you see your new tooth in the mirror, you won’t even know it’s not real because of how it will match your existing teeth in terms of colour and size.
Good hygiene is key.
Keep in mind that long-term care is still the best way to maintain not only your dental implant but also your oral health—regular brushing of your teeth and flossing can help your dental visits become less and less over time.
When planned properly with the right dental professional, getting dental implants will be the best decision that you’ll ever make if you are not comfortable with the feel of your missing teeth.
