Dental Implant Procedure | Three types of Dental Implant | complications associated with dental implants? | Specialist in dental implant
What is Dental Implant Procedure?
The dental implant is done to remove the roots of the tooth, damaged teeth, and missing teeth with an artificial tooth. This is a surgical procedure wherein medical devices are used to implant new and fresh teeth in place of the old ones. The implants are done so that it is hard to distinguish between artificial and original teeth. Furthermore, the implant also helps fix problems related to appearance, chewing & eating.
The dental implant is simply an artificial tooth placed into your jaw to hold the complete tooth bridge. People who have lost any of their teeth due to assorted reasons such as periodontal disease, an injury, or some other reason and are reluctant to wear dentures should go for a dental implant. This is because missed or broken teeth can cause bone loss, defective speech, and changes in chewing patterns. Therefore, replacing the lost tooth with a dental implant becomes essential. Dentists believe dental implants are the best solution because they provide a solid foundation for the original/fixed tooth, and the replacement is made to match the natural teeth.
What are the three types of Dental Implants?
There are diverse types of dental implants, and which is the best for you will be chosen by the dentist, depending on your situation. Highlighted below are the types of dental implants:
Single-tooth Implant
This is done when only one tooth needs to be replaced or removed. Hence your dentist will only put one tooth or crown.
Many-tooth Implant
When a few teeth need implants, your dentist may perform a multiple-tooth implant with the help of artificial teeth, which have been customized according to your teeth.
Complete Implant
This is the situation where your dentist will put all the artificial teeth based on your mouth size to look like your original teeth.
Endosteal Implants– This is like a small screw, cylinder, or blade that goes directly into your jawbone and holds the tooth replacement of single or multiple teeth. This is done in cases when the patient already has dentures or bridges. Furthermore, there are two most common types of dental implants.
Subperiosteal Implants- This is performed above your jawbone and is like a metal sticking to the gum. This is done when patients cannot wear a regular denture and can easily hold endosteal implant procedures.
What are the complications associated with dental implants?
There can be some complications in dental implants. A few of them have been highlighted below:
- Infection on the implant post the implant is completed
- Injury to the nearby teeth or gums during the implant
- Nerve damage causing pain in other teeth, mouth, and lips
- In cases when a dental implant is performed into sinus cavities, it might activate sinus problems
- Discomfort in a way that it bothers at the time of chewing
- A constant sensation that you might lose a tooth or your tooth is coming out
- Poor oral hygiene as caused by the incapacity to clean the gums around the implant
- Nerve damage leading to numbness even after the surgery
Is Dental Implant Painful?
Dentists believe dental implant surgery is a reliable and long-term solution to replace missing teeth. However, it comes with some amount of discomfort. Dental implant treatment is performed after making the mouth numb, and the implant procedure does not cause pain. However, once the numbness wears off, patients are bound to feel pain.
Dentists recommend painkillers to help manage the pain and discomfort at the implant. In most cases, post-surgery pain is mild and can be easily managed with painkillers. Additionally, the number of implants performed is also one of the factors amounting to the pain post-surgery. Dentists believe that post-surgery pain might go away within 10-15 days. However, if the pain does not go away even after 10-15 days, it is essential to contact your dental professionals, as long-lasting pain is a sign of some infection at the implant site.
What are some of the tips that help in dental implant recovery?
In maximum cases, recovery from the dental implant is quick and 100%; however, below mentioned are some of the tips that help in speedy recovery of a dental implant:
Take Good Rest
The dentist advises their patients to take proper and complete rest once the implant is done, as a good rest will help heal the body fast. Additionally, dentists recommend refraining from performing any such activity that will increase the risks of getting injured in the face.
After the surgery, it is essential to take a soft and liquid diet such as healthy drinks, omelets, lentils, water, soups, fruits, and vegetables for the next 10-15 days, as chewing the food can irritate the jaw.
Staying Hydrated
Hydration is essential as it allows you to flush out toxins and energize yourself. Furthermore, one should also avoid drinking alcohol and using a straw for drinking smoothies, shakes, and other drinks.
Salt Water
Dentists recommend rinsing your mouth with salt water as salt helps remove and reduce the bacteria in the mouth.
Other factors that help in fast recovery are:
- Maintaining overall wellbeing
- Ensuring and maintaining proper dental hygiene as instructed by the dentist
- No smoking and no alcohol consumption
- Usage of icepacks to remove or reduce the swelling
Who is a specialist in dental implants?
The dental implant is done by a dentist who is a specializedperiodontist as they are the expert in managing both soft and hard tissues and have the proper knowledge and experience to ensure the dental implant looks exactly like the original.
What to expect at dental implant surgery?
Dental implant surgery gets completed in multiple stages as the healing time is given to all the patients between the surgery. The following steps are followed to complete the dental implant treatment:
- Removal of a damaged tooth
- Grafting as and when needed
- Placement of dental implant
- Growth and healing of bones
- Placement of Abutment
- Artificial tooth placement
The dentist follows the steps mentioned above and may take much time, such as months, to meet the finish lines. This is because a reasonable amount of time is dedicated to healing and waiting for the growth of new bone in the jaw.
Disclaimer: This blog has been written after performing in-depth secondary research related to the topic from various articles, blogs, and journals with expertise in writing for healthcare. The content on this page should not be considered a substitute for medical expertise. We advise you to book an appointment with the dentist for any doubts.