What You Need To Know About Dental Implant Surgery

Those receiving dental implants Coral Springs FL for the first time may have some questions regarding what happens from initial consultation to the end result. While every patient and procedure experiences different circumstances, the entire process usually lasts anywhere from 6-13 months.

Initial Consultation

Schedule a consultation with either a dentist or orthodontist trained to perform dental implant surgery. During this appointment, the dentist gets a better understanding of the patient’s situation and determines what the best course of action would be.

Optional: Grafting

Should the patient have a deficient jawbone too weak to support implants, bone grafting may be necessary. This process involves removing existing bone from other parts of the body and welding it to the jawbone. This usually strengthens the jaw to the point that it can support implants and keep them in place.

Surgery

In order to clear room for implants, partial teeth at the surgical site must be removed. During the first procedure, the dental implant is connected to the jawbone in place of the missing tooth. After a resting period of 4-7 months, the second phase takes place. Here, new pieces are added that will connect the implant to its future crown. A temporary crown protects gums from getting caught in the exposed hardware. Finally, after additional months of rest, a permanent crown is inserted to complete the process.

Recovering From Surgery

As with any surgical operation, the recovery time is key to preventing infection or experiencing setbacks. The patient may experience pain, swelling and bleeding around the treatment site. To combat this, the surgeon may prescribe pain medications in addition to antibiotics that act to prevent infection. Implants are cared for the same as any normal teeth, by brushing and flossing regularly.

Dental implants can go a long way toward restoring a broken smile. You can further familiarize yourself with the process by talking with a dentist or orthodontist.