While dental implants have been around for decades, accessible technology, materials, and advancements to the treatment are making it more popular than ever. For those missing one, several, or all of their teeth, this leading-edge treatment not only restores the visible tooth, but also the important root structure below the gums. Of course, this requires oral surgery to complete, which many patients may feel concerned about. Read on to learn more about the process of getting dental implants and whether it can be painful or uncomfortable.
What is the Process of Getting Dental Implants?
While getting dental implants can be slightly more extensive than traditional restorative treatments, like dentures or bridges, they can last for several decades and have a life-changing impact that makes the process well worth it. Your individual treatment plan may vary depending on what your dentist determines during your initial consultation and oral evaluation, but typically, the process involves four main steps:
- Consultation: This will involve a thorough examination of your mouth and facial structure as well as a discussion about your goals to determine whether dental implants are right for you.
- Implant Placement: Placing the implants is a surgical procedure that’s planned using advanced diagnostic images, like a cone beam CT scan.
- Osseointegration & Abutment Placement: After your placement, your implants will fuse with the jawbone through a process called osseointegration. Once the gums have healed and this has occurred, small, metal connector pieces called abutments will be attached to the implants.
- Securing the Final Restoration: Once the final prosthetic is complete, it will be attached to your abutments to complete your smile.
Will Implant Placement Hurt?
If you’ve never had to undergo oral surgery before, the thought of a dentist placing metal posts into your jawbone may seem daunting and even painful. However, they do everything possible to ensure the surgery is pain-less. In fact, many patients are able to carry on with their daily lives the very next day following their surgery because their discomfort is so minimal. Of course, this will depend on a number of factors, like how many dental implants you have placed.
What Will Recovery Be Like?
Recovering from dental implant surgery doesn’t take very long. While the process of osseointegration can take between three and six months, the healing time is only one to two weeks. Typically, patients experience some soreness during this time, but nothing that can’t be handled by taking over-the-counter pain medications as directed by your dentist. Other symptoms, like bleeding, should stop within four days at most, while bruising and swelling should go down within about a week.
If you’re anxious about the process, don’t hesitate to calm your nerves by addressing any concerns you have with your dentist. Oftentimes, having these answers can help you feel more confident and comfortable going into your procedure.
About the Author
Dr. Ron Sherman has been practicing dentistry for over 33 years, all of which have been spent serving his Issaquah community. He’s dedicated to providing personalized treatments that are created with his patients’ needs and goals in mind. He enjoys helping his patients better understand all of their treatment options, especially when it comes to tooth replacement. He has completed countless hours of continuing education courses and is able to complete the entire dental implant treatment under one roof, allowing his patients to stick with the same trusted professional throughout the process. For questions or to schedule a consultation, visit First Impressions’ website or call 425-391-4964.