What
Exactly Does the Dental Implant Procedure Involve?
First, you will need
to discuss your options with your dentist. Together, it will
be decided if you are a good candidate for dental implants.
The dentist will take a complete dental history, x-rays, and
complete a thorough oral examination. If you are a candidate
for implant surgery, the procedure is as follows:
| 1.
Surgical placement of the implant(s) into the bone. This
is usually done right in the dentist’s office, with a
local anesthetic. After surgery, there is a healing period
of approximately four months. During this time, the implants
fuse to the bone by a process known as ‘osseointegration’.
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| 2.
Next, there is a minor surgical exposure of the top
of the implant, whereby the dentist will attach the post
to the implant. The function of the post is to become
the support for either one tooth or a set of teeth. This
is a short procedure that usually requires only local
anesthesia. |
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| 3.
The last phase is the restorative phase. The dentist will
take impressions and then make a prosthesis that will
attach to the implants. This will require several visits.
Once completed, your mouth will be restored to natural
looking, strong teeth. |
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