Dental implant surgery refers to replacing tooth roots with metal posts and the damaged tooth with artificial teeth that imitate the natural teeth. Dental implants offer an effective alternative to dentures and bridgework, which do not fit well. It also works well when you have missing natural teeth, making it hard to build bridgework or denture tooth replacements. The procedure of getting Grand Prairie dental implants depends on the state of your jawbone and the type of implant.
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Why Should You Get Dental Implants?
A dental professional will insert dental implants into your jawbone, where they act as the roots for any missing teeth. After some time, the implants made from titanium will fuse with your jawbone, so you do not have to worry about them slipping out, causing bone damage, or making noise. Additionally, the materials cannot decay.
Generally, you may need dental implants if you:
- You have one or more missing teeth.
- Have a fully grown jawbone.
- Have enough bone mass to secure implants or can have a bone graft.
- Have oral tissues in good health.
- Don’t have any conditions that may impact the ability of your bones to heal.
- Cannot or do not want to wear dentures.
- Want to enhance speech.
- Don’t smoke.
Risks
As you would expect with any surgery, dental implants come with a few health risks. However, problems rarely occur with dental implants. Those that may come up are primarily minor, and you can have them treated easily. Some common hazards include:
- Infections around the implant.
- Damage to the nearby structures such as blood vessels or teeth.
- Nerve damage.
- Sinus issues.
How to Prepare
When planning to get dental implants, you will have to work with different specialists. You must obtain a detailed evaluation because you need at least one surgical procedure when getting dental implants. A comprehensive dental exam will help the specialist create models of your teeth and jaws. They will then review your medical history to learn about any preexisting medical conditions and medications you take. If you have any heart conditions, you may need to take antibiotics to prevent infection. Depending on your situation, a dentist will create an ideal treatment plan by considering different factors such as the state of your jawbone, the number of teeth that need replacing, and the remaining teeth.
What Should I Expect?
Dental implants are outpatient procedures conducted in different phases with recovery time between the various procedures. The placement of dental implants involves different steps, including:
- Removal of damaged teeth.
- Preparation of the jawbone.
- Placement of the implant.
- Growth and recovery of the bone.
- Abutment placement.
- Artificial tooth placement.
It can take months to complete the process, with most of the time dedicated to recovery. You can have multiple steps done simultaneously depending on your situation, the materials used, and the procedure done.