Category: Dental Implants

If you’re gearing up for dental implant surgery, you’re far from alone. This dental procedure is incredibly common and growing even more so, with experts estimating that at least 5.7% of the population will opt for it by the year 2026.

Of course, as the day of your procedure approaches, it’s not unusual to start feeling anxious about your preparations. How can you make sure that your surgery is a success?

We’ve got you covered! Let’s take a look at a few of the most important things to take care of before the big day.

Ask Your Surgeon Plenty of Questions

During your comprehensive dental examination, you’ll have an opportunity to ask your surgeon about the step-by-step procedure, your treatment plan, your recovery timeline, and more. It helps to write down any questions you want to ask in advance, ensuring that you remember them!

At this time, you’ll want to ask about alternative products or dental materials for any allergies you have. You’ll also want to give your surgeon a list of any medications you’re taking.

This is also a good moment to ask about your options for sedation. While some patients opt for nitrous oxide sedation to feel at ease, deeper sedation tactics may be better for patients with anxiety or those who need extensive surgery.

Change a Few Key Habits

As with most implant dentistry procedures, you’ll need to change a few of your daily habits.

If you’re a smoker, you’ll need to be nicotine-free for at least six weeks before your surgery. Not only can smoking impact your body’s ability to heal, but it can also affect your reaction to sedation.

You should also stop drinking alcohol at least three days before your surgery, and you should stop drinking caffeine a week before your surgery.

In some cases, your surgeon may ask you to stop or alter your medication intake during a set time frame before your implant procedure. This may include things like aspirin and ibuprofen as well as certain vitamins such as fish oil or turmeric supplements.

Fill Any Prescriptions From Your Surgeon

Though patients often need to undergo a course of antibiotics after the procedure is complete, some patients will also need to take antibiotics before it. This is especially true of patients with diabetes, heart conditions, or weakened immune systems.

If you’re concerned about the possibility of infection, feel free to talk to your dentist about antibiotic pre-treatment during your consultation.

Clear Your Schedule

Though implants won’t keep you off your feet for long, it’s best to clear your schedule for the rest of the day after an implant surgery. In addition, while some patients return to work the following day, you may want to consider taking at least one day off of work.

If not, make sure to ease up on the number of activities you’ll be tackling, as you may not feel up to the task during your early recovery. In general, you may want to set a lighter schedule for around a week after your surgery.

Call for Backup

Whether or not you’ll be opting for heavy sedation, it’s important to have someone around to drive you home after your procedure. Contact a friend or family member for the job, and ask them to be on hand for at least 24 hours after your surgery if you’ll need to go out again.

If you have children, it’s best to make sure that someone else is around to take care of them for the first 24-48 hours after your procedure.

Stock Up on the Right Foods

Once you come home after your dental implant procedure, you probably won’t feel up to a grocery run! Instead, consider stocking up on the right foods in advance, allowing you to get some rest without worrying about finding foods that are gentle on your new implant.

You should always follow your surgeon’s specific recommendations regarding the best foods to eat. However, in general there are a few tried-and-tested foods worth grabbing.

In the first few days after your surgery, you’ll need to eat soft or liquid foods. This can include mashed potatoes, oatmeal, smoothies, nutritional drinks, yogurt, cold soup, ice cream, applesauce, and pudding. If you won’t have someone around to prepare your meals for you, consider grabbing ready-made or packaged products, as you may not feel up to cooking right away.

Once you’ve begun your dental implant recovery, you can upgrade your diet to soft foods that you can chew. This can include foods like pasta, soft bread, eggs, and even soft chicken, fish, or beef. Make sure to ask your dentist when to make this switch.

Get Enough Sleep

You’ll spend your surgery lying back in a chair, so it’s tempting to think that you don’t need to worry about getting enough sleep. However, most patients feel surprised by how tiring and even stressful the dental implant procedure can be!

Getting enough sleep can not only help ease any anxiety, but it can also ensure that your body is well-rested enough to have the energy it needs during your early recovery. Be sure to jump-start your natural healing response by going to bed on time.

Start Preparing for Your Dental Implant Surgery

If you’ve been struggling to upgrade the appearance of your teeth or your oral health in general, implants can truly feel like a game-changer. While it’s not unusual to feel anxious about your upcoming procedure, don’t forget that there’s plenty you can do to prepare for success from the start.

When you work with one of our expert oral surgeons, you’ll have the opportunity to ask them more specific questions about your preparations, procedure, or post-implant instructions. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any concerns as your surgery approaches!

One small accident can have a major impact on your smile. In fact, about 20% of people suffer from an oro-dental trauma to their teeth at some point in their lives. Without treatment, you could experience complications in the future.

In fact, you could develop facial and psychological issues or changes to your quality of life. 

Implant dentistry could provide the perfect solution to your oro-dental trauma. You can restore your smile and with it, your self-confidence.

What are dental implants, exactly, and how can they benefit your dental health? Read on to find out!

After reading this implant dentistry guide, you can determine if dental implants are right for you. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about dental implants today!

What is Implant Dentistry?

First, let’s cover the basics: what is implant dentistry?

Dental implants are prosthetics custom-designed to replace a patient’s missing teeth. An oral surgeon can fix the implants directly into your jawbone. Through a process called osseointegration, the implants are fused to the jawbone to ensure they remain in place.

Patients can experience long-lasting results to maintain a stunning, improved smile. 

The fusion process ensures the dental implant replaces your missing tooth’s previously-existing root. Once osseointegration is complete, an oral surgeon will place a bridge. The bridge will ensure the replacement tooth’s lasting placement. 

The osseointegration process will also ensure the implant fuses to the bone for stimulation. Keeping the jawbone stimulated will help preserve your bone’s structure.

Otherwise, your jawbone might begin to degrade. 

Your dentist might place a single dental implant or a bridge to replace multiple lost teeth. They might also use a bridge to secure dentures. 

A single crown, on the other hand, is ideal if you’re only missing a single tooth. 

Ideal Patients

In order to start better understanding implant dentistry, it helps to consider why you might require this procedure. Ideal patients are first healthy enough to successfully undergo surgery. 

If your oral surgeon determines you’re an ideal candidate for the procedure, they’ll next check your gums and teeth. They’ll need to determine your gums are healthy enough for the osseointegration process. 

Your dentist will need to make sure you have enough bone for the implant as well. Otherwise, they’ll likely recommend other treatment options.

Your dentist might determine you’re not an ideal candidate if you have:

• Heart disease
• Liver disease
• A severe bleeding disorder
• A smoking habit

You can schedule a consultation appointment with your dentist to determine if this course of treatment is right for you. Otherwise, you can explore alternative forms of treatment. 

Types of Implants

During your consultation appointment, you and your dentist can discuss different types of dental implants. There are two main types of implants you might consider: endosteal and subperiosteal implants.

Endosteal implants are placed within the bone. You’ll undergo the osseointegration process if you receive endosteal implants. 

Subperiosteal implants, on the other hand, rest on top of the jawbone. Your dentist might recommend this type of implant depending on your jaw and gum health.

Subperiosteal implants aren’t recommended often, though. Endosteal implants are the more common option. Most patients experience better results with endosteal implants, too.

Otherwise, you might consider talking to your dentist about mini dental implants.

Mini dental implants are exactly as they sound; they’re smaller than the traditional type of dental implants. Dentists might recommend mini implants if teeth only need anchorage for a short period. Your dentist can remove the mini implants before providing a long-term treatment option. 

The final type of implant dentistry is called all-in-four dental implants. These implants are ideal for patients that need to replace teeth connected by an arch. 

You can schedule a consultation with your dentist to determine which type of implant suits your treatment needs. 

The Procedure

When understanding implant dentistry, it helps to consider the entire procedure. You’ll need to schedule multiple appointments for the entire procedure. 

First, you’ll schedule your implant dentistry consultation. Your dentist will examine your jaw and gums during this appointment. Then, they’ll determine if treatment can benefit your oral health needs. 

If your jawbone has adequate foundation, your dentist might recommend you for this procedure. 

Next, you’ll need to schedule an appointment to have the titanium implants surgically placed into your jawbone. You’ll likely need local anesthesia. Local anesthesia will ensure your comfort during the procedure. 

Your dentist will extract the tooth at the dental implant site. Then, they’ll ensure the bone graft is placed.

If enough bone is present, they’ll extract the damaged tooth and place the implant within the same appointment. 

You’ll require three to six months to give the implant time to heal. Once the implant is integrated with the jawbone, you can schedule the next appointment. During this appointment, your dentist will place the restoration.

The restoration might include a dental crown, implant-supported bridge, or implant-supported denture. 

The Benefits

While reviewing this implant dentistry guide with your oral surgeon, consider discussing the potential benefits you’ll experience. 

For starters, implants behave and look like your natural teeth. You can restore the previous functionality of your lost tooth with an implant.

They’re also biocompatible. Your body will accept the implant fully. 

Your implant will also ensure your teeth remain stable. Otherwise, the surrounding teeth will begin to migrate toward the gap. 

An implant can also help you avoid facial sagging. The implant will help preserve the jawbone. Otherwise, you could experience structural deterioration. 

Without treatment, any gaps in your smile might cause your lower face to shrivel inward. 

The success rate for this procedure is 98%. Scheduling the implant procedure can restore your smile and help you avoid complications in the future.

What is Implant Dentistry?: Your Guide to a Stunning Smile

Don’t let a gap in your smile impact your oral health. Instead, consider implant dentistry. A dental implant can fill any gaps in your smile and restore your self-confidence.

Consider scheduling a consultation appointment today. 

Not sure if oral surgery is right for you? We can help. 

Learn more about our practice today to get started!

Most people will seek out dental implants when they need to replace a tooth or teeth that have been removed from their mouth in some manner. Dental implants include an artificial tooth that is affixed to a created root in the mouth. The need to replace a tooth may come about for many reasons. The most common reasons that people will seek out dental implants include:

A Tooth Loss Caused By an Accident

Sports injuries, falls, and vehicle accidents can all result in broken, damaged, or even detached teeth. An implant can help to restore the normal appearance of your mouth to the way it looked before the accident occurred.

A Tooth or Teeth That Are Significantly Decayed

When teeth are severely decayed, or the decay has gone deep into the tooth, the tooth may end up needing to be removed. In some cases, you can be given a root canal and crown, but in other situations, you will need to have the tooth removed and replaced. 

To Improve Their Smile

Some people, such as actors, models, or anyone concerned about the look of their smile may choose dental implants. Depending on the issues with your teeth and the desired look, teeth may need to be removed and replaced with implants to give you your desired results.

To Avoid Dentures

Some patients who would normally require dentures may opt for dental implants instead. Dental implants can be easier to care for and are a more permanent solution that is appealing to many. 

How Dental Implants Can Help

There are many ways that dental implants help to improve the aesthetics of your mouth as well as its health. Having dental implants to replace missing teeth can:

• Prevent the loss of jawbone
• Help you maintain your appearance
• Allow you to speak more clearly
• Prevent your teeth from shifting

What to Expect When You Have Dental Implants

To prepare for your dental implants, your dental surgeon will first create a plan. This will involve making sure the implants will fit properly and that rooting them will not cause any damage to existing nerves. This process will involve several x-rays. Once they know how they will proceed, they will next implant the metal rods that will hold the structure into your jawline. After seven to ten days, the area should be healed, and stitches will be able to be removed. 

It may take four to six months for the area to fully heal and be prepared for the next stage of surgery. During the second stage of the process, the protective screw on the implant will be removed and replaced with a metal cap. The final step in the process will come two to three weeks later when the bridge, crown, or denture is made and affixed to the implant. 

Even though dental implants can involve a lengthy process, the results are amazing, often transforming the patient’s smile to what it once was, or what they have dreamed it to become.