SERVING PITTSBURGH, ALLISON PARK, AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS OF PENNSYLVANIA
Dental implant surgery is a multi-stage procedure. If you are considering dental implants, understanding the procedure is crucial to making sure this procedure is right for you. It will also allow you to plan appropriately for your dental restorations.
Before Dental Implant Surgery
Before your dental implant surgery, you must first select your implant dentist. You will be evaluated to make sure you are a good candidate for the procedure, which will include discussion of your complete general and oral health history. If you are a good candidate, you will be scheduled for your surgery.
Before your surgery, you should:
- Quit smoking (ideally permanently, but at least for a period before and after surgery)
- Pick up prescriptions
- Arrange time off work (not everyone needs time off work, but it’s best to count on two or three days for recovery)
- Arrange for a ride to and from your surgery
And, of course, follow any additional instructions from your implant dentist, such as not taking specific medications on the day of surgery if requested.
Dental Implant Surgery
Dental implant surgery does not take a long time. You will be at the doctor’s for a few hours, including time in our recovery room to make sure you have recovered from anesthesia enough to be released.
During surgery, your implant dentist will place your dental implants in your jaw bone. Most often, these are fitted with a temporary crown or no crown at all. In some cases, your dental implants may be immediately topped with a permanent crown.
Recovery from Dental Implant Surgery
After your dental implants are placed, your body will begin to regrow bone around the implants. This process, known as osseointegration, ensures that your dental implants are firmly fixed in your jawbone. This typically takes about 3-6 months, but for people with low bone density, it may take longer.
Abutment and Crown Placement
Once your dental implants are sufficiently integrated into your jawbone, it is time for your implants to be topped with a dental crown. This may be a one-stage process, but often it is a two-stage process. The abutment, a small adapter that attaches the dental crown to the implant root may be placed first, with time allowed for recovery before the dental crown is placed.
In all, the dental implant process takes several months to complete, but the results are so long-lasting that most people are happy to take the time to complete the process.
To learn more about the dental implant process and whether you are a good candidate, please contact Dentonics, Inc today for an appointment.
