Getting Dental Implants for Your Missing Teeth

Dental injuries, wear and tear, and other oral health issues can affect lead to tooth loss. Missing teeth affect your oral functionalities and smile. Sometimes, you might be at risk of bone loss. Therefore, you should consider seeking treatments early. When you seek treatments for missing teeth, your dentist will examine your mouth and recommend the most suitable course of action. One of the dental treatments your dentist can recommend is getting dental implants.

What Is a Dental Implant?

A dental implant is a titanium pole that replaces the root of a missing tooth. The titanium poles integrate with the jawbone, providing permanent anchors for your tooth caps. Since titanium is biocompatible, you will not be at risk of developing complications after the dental implant procedure.

Types of Tooth Implants

There are two types of dental implants. Therefore, it is advisable to consult your dentist. Your dentist will examine your mouth and listen to your dental concerns before recommending the suitable type of tooth implants. Below are the types of dental implants you can get: Endosteal Implants Endosteal dental implants are the most common types.  Your dentist embeds the endosteal implants to your jawbone, and every pole can hold more than one tooth cap. Subperiosteal Implants When getting such dental implants, your dentist in Calgary, SE, will fix the titanium poles on top of your jawbone. Your dentist might recommend subperiosteal dental implants if you don’t have enough jawbone height.

Preparing for Dental Implant Procedure

The dental implant procedure is surgical. Therefore, you need to prepare for the surgery to increase the chances of success and prevent post-surgery complications. To prepare for the dental implant procedure, you can consider consulting your dentist first. Your dentist will begin by examining your teeth. During the dental exam, the dentist will conduct a physical exam and recommend dental x-rays to check the condition of your jaw. If you don’t have enough jawbone to support a tooth implant, your dentist or oral surgeon might recommend a bone graft. Your oral surgeon can source the bone grafts from a donor, other parts of your body, or use a synthetic one. After healing from bone graft surgery, your dentist will clear you to get dental implants. It is also advisable to inform your dentist about your health and medication history to reduce the risk of post-surgery complications. With information about your medical history, your dentist can create a suitable treatment plan.

During the Dental Implant Procedure

When getting dental implants in Calgary, your dentist will begin by administering local or general anesthesia, depending on the number of replacements. Once anesthesia starts kicking in, your dentist in T2J 6A5 will make incisions through your gums. Next, the dentist will cut through your jawbone to place the dental implants. After placing the dental implants, the dentist will recommend anesthetic recovery before being cleared to go home. Sometimes, the dentist will place a temporary dental prosthesis as your await to get your permanent tooth caps or dentures.

Recovery

Once you get dental implants, you might experience mild pain and swelling. However, the pain and swelling should go away after a few days. Otherwise, you can consider contacting your dentist if you develop any complications. For fast recovery, you can consider the following:

• Consume soft foods and change to regular ones as you heal, avoiding irritating the treatment site
• Rinse your mouth using warm saline water or antiseptic mouthwash after 24 hours to reduce the risk of infections
• For swelling, you can use an ice pack
• Brush your teeth gently without touching the treatment site
• Avoid smoking tobacco and minimize alcohol consumption since they hinder fast recovery

Aftercare

Tooth implants are the dental restorations with the longest lifespan. Your dental implants can stay intact for more than twenty years without the need for repairs or replacements. To increase the lifespan of your dental implants, we recommend the following at Willow Park Dental:

• Brush your teeth regularly and consider replacing your toothbrush at least every three months
• Floss your teeth at least once daily to eliminate plaque and tartar deposits
• Visit your dentist at least twice yearly for dental exams and cleanings
• Avoid biting or chewing on hard objects to prevent dental injuries
• Wear a protective mouthguard when playing contact sports

For more information about dental implants, you can visit our dental clinic in Calgary, SE.