Contact
7928 Mukilteo SpeedwaySte 201
Mukilteo, WA 98275
(425) 609-0230info@driftwooddentalstudio.com
Dental implants surpass every other tooth replacement because they’re the only restoration that can prevent bone loss, last for a lifetime, and stabilize the tooth in the jaw so that it never moves.
However, you might be intimidated by the surgical dental implant process or wonder how long it will take. Read on in this blog from Driftwood Dental Studio to learn about each stage of the process.
At your implant consultation, the dentist will perform an oral exam and take x-rays to look for two things – the presence of oral health problems and the existence of healthy and sufficient bone density.
If problems like active tooth decay, gum disease, orthodontic problems, or tooth infections are present, these will need to be treated before you can receive dental implants. The other major issue is whether or not you have sufficient jawbone structure to support the implants.
If you have suffered from bone loss due to tooth loss, health conditions, teeth grinding, or a misaligned bite, then you may need to receive bone grafts to create enough support for the implants.
This isn’t a problem, as most patients require some form of bone grafting before becoming eligible for implants. However, if bone loss is severe, you may only qualify for a specific type of implant or you may be better suited for dentures.
When it comes to the first oral surgery, where we implant the titanium post into the jawbone, we will first administer local anesthesia to completely numb the mouth. You will not feel any pain during the procedure.
If you experience dental anxiety, we can offer you additional sedation such as nitrous oxide or oral conscious sedation, which will relax you and make you feel more comfortable. After prepping your mouth and administering any sedatives, an incision will be made into the gums.
The titanium post which is shaped like a screw is embedded into the jawbone and then we will reposition the gums and suture them shut.
While you will heal from the oral surgery rather fast – anywhere from a couple of days to 2 weeks depending on the number of implants, location, whether you have bone grafts, and your overall health, it will take 3 to 6 months for osseointegration to complete.
Osseointegration is the process of the jawbone growing around the implant until they fuse, forming an artificial tooth root.