You have decided to replace your missing teeth with dental implants, the gold standard in tooth restoration. So, what can you expect? While placing dental implants is a process that takes an extraordinary amount of planning and precision on the part of the dentist and staff, it is relatively simple for patients with one or more missing teeth. If you have scheduled implant surgery to replace your missing teeth in Chester, NJ, the best thing to do is talk to your periodontist and become familiar with the steps.
5 Steps to a Beautifully Restored Smile
Your doctor will perform an examination and also take x-rays to evaluate the health of your teeth and bone where there are missing teeth, as well as the placement of your nerves and sinus cavity. Our office, for example, utilizes 3D imaging to produce a comprehensive view of the oral environment in less than 40 seconds. An impression of your remaining teeth may be taken as well, which takes only a few minutes.
If hopeless teeth are still present, they will be extracted. This can be performed by your periodontist and can also be performed at the same time as implant insertion, depending upon the treatment plan you created with your doctor. Sedation dentistry is available for those who need it and is extremely helpful for patients who suffer from dental anxiety. Your doctor will provide you with a post procedure list for the days following the extraction.
Dental implants have three pieces: a post, abutment, and dental crown and unlike other restorative options, replace missing teeth in their entirety. The titanium post is placed in the jaw and eventually integrates with existing bone. As with extraction, this implantation procedure will require some accommodations afterward, yet only takes an hour or two.
After the bone has healed and the post is firmly secured, your doctor will attach an abutment to the post. The abutment connects the post and dental crown and it also allows the tooth to rise up naturally from the gum line.
Permanent crowns are attached to the abutments and your new dental implants are complete! No more missing teeth!
While this is an accurate representation of the general process, there may be some variation from doctor to doctor when replacing missing teeth in Chester, NJ. Patients who have experienced bone loss due to missing teeth or have gum disease may need additional treatment to prepare for surgery. For more information about implant dentistry, contact our office to schedule a consultation with Dr. Thomas A. Bissell.
