There are many reasons to replace a missing tooth. Maybe you’re worried about your remaining teeth shifting out of alignment due to the gap. Some people find it difficult or annoying to keep the open gum area clear, and others are self-conscious about how a tooth gap affects their smile. No matter why you’re interested in replacing your lost tooth, dental implants are an excellent option for most candidates who want to make their smile complete again. Because dental implants are a permanent solution to tooth loss, there are a few steps in the process. Dental implant restoration is the final step in replacing your missing tooth. But what does it mean to restore implants?
What To Expect Before Implant Restoration
Dental implant restoration is the point of the implant process when your new tooth implant is integrated into your jaw. But before implant restoration, there are many other steps to getting your jaw ready for its new tooth.
First, your dentist will take X-rays of your jaw to determine whether you are a good candidate for a dental implant and where to place the implant. Most implants will anchor at the site of the missing tooth’s roots. Once you and your dentist are ready to move forward with the process, it’s time to place the implant itself.
Placing a dental implant usually happens under local or general anesthesia. If you tend to have anxiety about going to the dentist, general anesthesia can help avoid nervousness during the procedure. To insert a dental implant, your dentist opens the gum tissue to place the implant post in your jawbone. Once the post is set, the gum tissue is closed again so the healing process can continue.
The Process of Dental Implant Restorations
The primary reason traditional dental implants take so long to complete is that once the implant base is installed in your jaw, it takes time for the jaw bone to integrate with the new implant material. After a long history of dental implants, modern dental science has developed an implant that can bond securely and without rejection to the jaw bone by using only the safest dental implant components. This process is known as osseointegration and can take four to six months.
Once the implant base is secure, it’s finally time for implant restoration. During this step, your dentist will expose the implant posts and install a connecting abutment. After allowing the gums to heal for two more months, a bridge, crown, or denture is attached to the connection and firmly established in your jaw.
The Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants are the most secure way to replace missing teeth compared to many other procedures. You’ll never have to worry about looseness, clacking, or shifting teeth. The time it takes to complete a dental implant procedure is all part of what helps them last so long. If you’re looking for a dentist in Albany, Oregon, to help you navigate the process of getting a new dental implant, give us a call at Pinnacle Dental Associates today!