Your Ultimate Guide to Getting Dental Implants

Patients may feel overwhelmed when a dentist suggests dental implants. The process can sound intimidating, but fortunately the practice of providing patients with a brand-new smile has been studied, modernized, and improved over the past several decades. Not only can patients feel confident smiling frequently in public again, but their oral health and daily function may be vastly enhanced with implants.

Why get dental implants

Replacing teeth is the number one reason for getting implants. Such a replacement offers a number of underlying positive effects:

  • Improved oral health by being able to chew properly and expand on a previously limited diet
  • A fully restored, whole smile
  • Boosted self-confidence in smiling and speaking
  • Durability that usually outlasts that of other appliances, such as dentures and dental bridges

What to expect from the procedure

Dental procedures are slightly different for every individual. However, these six steps represent the standard for receiving dental implants:

Step 1: Assessments

All patients must go through a list of assessments to make sure they are healthy enough to be a candidate for surgery. The jawbone must be strong, healthy, and able to heal after surgery. The patient cannot have medical history that may compromise the procedure or potentially cause complications afterward. In some cases, additional steps of removing damaged teeth or bone grafting must be included in a patient’s treatment plan.

Step 2: Initial surgery and post placement

The surgery for placing the implant post is fairly simple. The gum is cut open to expose the jawbone, and small holes are drilled where the posts are then placed. The post is usually secured deep in the bone to encourage bone growth and bonding and to ensure proper support for the future tooth.

Step 3: Healing

After surgery, the patient must allow time for the jawbone and gums to heal completely. During this time the bone will heal around the post and create new, functional support (a process called osseointegration). Once the healing process is complete, the abutment can be placed on the implant post.

Step 4: The abutment

Another minor surgery may be necessary to reopen the gums to expose the post. The small abutment is connected to the post. Surrounding gum tissue is carefully closed again, this time around the abutment. If the gum tissue grows over the piece, the artificial tooth cannot be placed.

Step 5: Placing new teeth

Finally, a tooth impression is taken to create the crown. More healing time may be necessary if a patient’s jawbone is not yet strong enough to endure pressure on the new tooth. Once it is ready, the tooth is secured to the abutment.

Step 6: Aftercare

Patients may need to avoid hard foods following the procedure. Some may experience side effects like swelling in the face, gum bruising, and pain where the implants were placed. Medications may be prescribed until the pain subsides.

Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp:
Getting Dental Implants in Honolulu, HI

Conclusion

A dentist can provide all details about dental implants and the procedures involved. Each patient has a different care plan, so discussing individual needs is the easiest way to see what this process will look like for you.

Request an appointment or call Diamond Head Dental Care at 808-450-2101 for an appointment in our Honolulu office.

Recent Posts

Eight Things To Ask About Dental Implants

Dental Implants are metal rods or screws (typically titanium) that are inserted into gum tissues as a general dentistry procedure. They are combined with restorations like crowns, dentures, and bridges to replace missing teeth.Implants help ward off the bone tissue loss that people with missing teeth can find themselves dealing with. The implant transfers bite…

Smile Confidently With Dental Implants

Dental implant surgery can bring back your stunning smile. Tooth loss makes eating, speaking, and even smiling difficult. It affects a person’s self-esteem. Getting implants can make you feel good about yourself again. Here are the details on how a dental implant can help you smile confidently again.People who use removable restorations often complain about…

What To Ask Your Dentist About Dental Implants

Dental implants are a popular choice for patients wanting to replace missing teeth. Formerly, partial dentures and dental bridges were the go-to treatments. However, implants have many advantages. They are more stable than removable dentures and typically last longer than bridges. Using this prosthesis, a dentist can replace a single missing tooth without disturbing any…

Diamond Head Dental Care

Share
Published by
Diamond Head Dental Care

Recent Posts

Cosmetic Dentist Uses Dental Bonding to Reshape Teeth

Your cosmetic dentist can reshape your teeth to improve your dental health and appearance. This…

2 days ago

Enhancing Your Smile With a Cosmetic Dentist

A cosmetic dentist can help correct tooth imperfections and enhance a smile's appearance. From whiter…

1 week ago

How Can a Cosmetic Dentist Enhance Your Smile?

A beautiful smile can be a powerful asset. It can affect first impressions, social interactions,…

2 weeks ago

Common Treatments at a Cosmetic Dentist

Cosmetic dentists offer a variety of treatments that enhance the appearance of your smile. While…

3 weeks ago

How a Dental Filling Can Protect Your Teeth

When dentists recommend a dental filling, they can use various materials according to the patient's…

4 weeks ago

Seeing a Cosmetic Dentist for Veneers

A cosmetic dentist can improve the overall appearance of your smile thanks to dental veneers.…

1 month ago