Dental implant surgery

Dental implant surgery refers to a procedure that substitutes tooth roots with metal, screwlike posts and substitutes damaged or missing teeth with artificial teeth which appear and function much like real ones. Dental implant surgery can offer a welcome replacement to dentures or bridgework that doesn't fit properly and can offer a choice when a lack of natural teeth roots doesn’t permit building denture or bridgework tooth replacements.

How dental implant surgery is done relies on the type of implant and the condition of a person’s jawbone. Dental implant surgery may comprise several procedures. The major perk of implants is solid support for a person’s new teeth — a process that requires the bone to heal tightly surrounding the implant. Because this bone healing needs time, the process can take many months.

Why it’s done?

Dental implants are surgically kept in a person’s jawbone, where they behave as the roots of missing teeth. Due to the titanium in the implants fuses with person’s jawbone, the implants won't slip, make noise/cause harm to bone the way fixed bridgework or dentures might. And the materials can't decay like person’s own teeth that bolster regular bridgework can.

Typically, dental implants may be right for an individual if they:

• Have one or more missing teeth
• Have a jawbone that's reached complete growth
• Have required bone to secure the implants or can have a bone graft
• Have healthy oral tissues
• Don't suffer from health conditions that will impact bone healing
• Are not able or not willing to wear dentures
• Want to improve speech
• Are willing to dedicate several months to the process
• Don't smoke tobacco

How to prepare

The planning process for dental implants may comprise an array of specialists, comprising a medical professional who specializes in conditions of the mouth, jaw as well as face (oral and maxillofacial surgeon), a dentist specializing in treating structures that bolster the teeth, like gums and bones (periodontist), a dentist who crafts and fits artificial teeth (prosthodontist), or rarely an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist.

Because dental implants need one/more surgical procedures, person must have a thorough evaluation to prepare for the process, comprising a:

Comprehensive dental exam. Person may have dental X-rays and 3D pictures taken, and have models made of teeth and jaw.

Review of person's medical history. Person should inform doctor about any medical conditions and any medications they take, comprising prescription and over-the-counter drugs and supplements. If person has certain cardiac conditions or orthopedic implants, person's doctor may prescribe antibiotics before surgery to aid prevent infection.

Treatment plan. Tailored to person's situation, this plan takes into consideration factors like how many teeth person needs replaced and the condition of his/her jawbone and remaining teeth.

To control pain, anesthesia options during surgery comprise local anesthesia, sedation/general anesthesia. If person is having sedation or general anesthesia, they should plan to have someone take them home post-surgery and expect to rest for the remainder of the day.

What to expect during dental implant surgery?

Dental implant surgery is mostly an outpatient surgery conducted in stages, with healing time between procedures. The process of keeping a dental implant involves more than one steps, comprising:

• Removal of Damaged tooth
• Jawbone preparation (grafting), when required
• Dental implant placement
• Bone growth and healing
• Abutment placement
• Placement of artificial tooth

The complete process can take several months from beginning to finish. Majority of that time is given to healing as well as waiting for the growth of new bone in jaw. Based on person's situation, the specific procedure done, or the materials utilised, certain steps can sometimes be combined.

After the procedure

Whether a person will have dental implant surgery in one stage or multiple stages, a person may experience few of the typical discomforts associated with any type of dental surgery, for instance:

• Swelling of gums and face
• Bruising of skin and gums
• Pain at the implant area
• Minor bleeding

A person may need pain medications or antibiotics post dental implant surgery. If swelling, discomfort, or any other issue gets worse in the days post-surgery, person should contact oral surgeon.

After each stage of surgery, person may need to ingest soft foods while the surgical area heals. Typically, surgeon will utilise stitches that dissolve on their own. In case stitches aren't self-dissolving, doctor removes them.

Results

Majority of dental implants are successful. In few cases, however, the bone fails to fuse sufficiently to the metal implant. Smoking, for instance, may lead to implant failure as well as complications.

If the bone fails to fuse sufficiently, the implant is taken out, the bone is cleaned up, and person can try the procedure again in about three months.

Risks

Similar to any surgery, dental implant surgery poses few health risks. Issues are rare, though, and when they do happen, they're typically minor and easily treated. Risks comprise:

• Infection at the implant site
• Injury or damage to surrounding structures, like other teeth/blood vessels
• Damage to nerves, which can cause pain, numbness/tingling in natural teeth, gums, lips or chin
• Sinus issues, when dental implants placed in the upper jaw protrude into one of person’s sinus cavities

To summarise

Dental implant surgery replaces the root portion of the tooth with metal, screw-like posts. 

Discomfort is normal and expected post dental implant surgery. 

To aid person heal post-surgery, dentist or oral surgeon might advise eating soft foods, applying ice packs to soothe the swelling, and patience while the surgical site heals.