If you’ve thought about getting dental implants, you might try to really envision what it is like to go through the procedure. But sometimes it can be difficult to imagine the steps necessary to have a new tooth or set of teeth placed.
So today, your Austin, MN dentist answers some of your questions about the implant process!
How Long Do They Really Take?
The entire process of having an implant placed in your mouth can be as little as 6 months. That said, it is often much longer than that, sometimes even more than a year.
So it is important to make sure that your mouth remains healthy through this process. It’s a major trauma to the jaw, so we need to take it very seriously. Dentists like to get their work started as soon as possible as a rule. And the placement of implants is certainly no exception to this rule.
The longer that a tooth is missing or disfigured, the more likely it is that changes to the face can occur. The orientation of the spacing of the teeth can change. You might even lose mass in the jawbone where there are no longer teeth. That said, there is a distinct process to the procedure in order to ensure the safety and sanitization of the operation.
So Walk Me Through It
The first step is the extraction of any tooth or tooth material from the site of where the implant is needed. Before anything else, this must be cleared away in order to make space for the implant. If you’ve not completed this stage, your dentist will not be able to proceed until it has been done.
After the site has been cleaned and is healed up from any prior surgery, the dentist might need to perform what is called a bone graft. Depending on the reason for the loss of the tooth and the length of time the tooth was missing, there may have been some decay in the bone matter of the jaw.
The dentist will need to make sure that the facial structure element is perfect, as well. When people get dentures, a change in their profile is often noticed. We want your face to look as similar as possible as before.
Any further grafting or structural procedures of the bone will need to be completed before the process can go any further. Sometimes, a few different operations are necessary to ensure a perfect new tooth.
The biggest thing to remember throughout the process is to keep your mouth clean. Follow the recommendations of your dentists, they truly do have your best outcome at heart.
ABOUT YOUR AUSTIN, MN, DENTIST:
Our team offers our patients and their family access to comprehensive dental care, including general, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry.
To schedule an appointment with the Potach and Mitchell Dental Clinic, contact our Austin, MN dental office today by calling 507-437-6312. Our office welcomes patients from Austin, MN and surrounding communities.
