Dental Implants / Implant Dentistry Oak Lawn, Illinois
For patients missing teeth due to an accident, injury, or disease, dental implants may offer an alternative to dentures, giving them the true look and feel of natural teeth. Implants can offer what other dental procedures cannot. The dental implants are actually embedded into the jaw. The procedure can be quite lengthy not to mention complicated.
Getting dental implants is a fairly invasive procedure, requiring the implant to be surgically embedded in the jaw bone. The first step in the process is having the cosmetic dentist determine if there is enough bone to anchor the implant in proper position. This is done with a series of simple dental x-rays.
If it is determined that the patient does not have enough bone for implantation, they are required to undergo a grafting surgery to take bone form other parts of the body (usually the mouth or hip) and insert it into the area where it’s needed for the implant. Establishing proper bone density is crucial to implant success.
Once bone density has been established, the first step in the implant procedure can begin. This consists of raising the gum, fitting the implant to the bone, and suturing the gum over the implant. Once this initial surgery is complete, the patient must wait three to six months, to allow the surrounding bone to begin to grow into the implant. This is called osteointegration.
Once it is determined that osteointegration has indeed taken place, a second procedure is used to uncover the implant, followed by the insertion of the tooth posts. Impressions are then taken of the tooth so that a custom made crown can be made for implantation.
The third appointment requires inserting permanent posts and adhering the new crown on the top of the implant.
Of course, no surgical procedure is without risk. Soreness and swelling are likely to occur during the early stages of the implant process as the bone bonds with the titanium, implant, and infection. Rejection may occur in some cases. Again, after the final surgery, some people experience swelling, soreness, and bleeding for at least the first day following the procedure.
Proper dental care and following a strict oral hygiene regiment is extremely important to ensure implant success and eliminate side effects. Only about 5 percent of patients experience implant rejection in the first year.