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What is a dental implant?
- A surgical procedure to replace missing teeth.
- It is a prosthetic device which is placed in the jawbone to support an artificial tooth or a replacement crown.
How does a dental implant work?
- The dental implant is inserted into the jawbone and osseointegrated with the bone.
- Once osseointegrated, the dental implant acts as a stable platform for the placement of a fixed or removable restoration.
What are the benefits of a dental implant?
- Improved mastication and speech
- Improved facial aesthetics
- Improved self-esteem
What are the drawbacks of a dental implant?
- A dental implant cannot be used for a single missing tooth.
- The process requires multiple surgeries.
- The final restoration may not be natural looking.
Dental implant cost
How is a dental implant placed?
- After a thorough examination of the jawbone and soft tissue, the area where the implant will be placed is prepared.
- The implant is surgically inserted.
- If a tooth has been extracted and needs to be replaced, a dental implant can be used to anchor the crown.
- The dental implant must be left to heal for a few months.
- Then the tooth or crown is placed.
How long does it take to see the results?
- The results will depend on the amount of bone loss and the size of the gap.
- It takes a few weeks to get the results.
What should be done after a dental implant surgery?
- The patient should not chew hard foods for 1-2 weeks after the surgery.
- The implant can be removed if necessary.
What can I expect during the healing period?
- A thin layer of fibrous connective tissue will cover the implant.
- This will slowly turn into bone, making it more solid and stronger.
- A year later the bone and implant are fully integrated.
- The implant may appear slightly different from the neighboring teeth.
- But after a few years, the implants will blend in.
What are the complications?
- The implant can loosen from the bone.
- It can break.
- This can cause a lot of pain.
- Infection can occur.
Other complications can include:
- Bleeding
- Pain
- Difficulty with speaking
- Ankylosis
- Numbness or tingling in the lip or chin