Dental Implants Process and Recovery

Within the last decade, dental implant technology has evolved and significantly improved, giving patients more options for replacing missing teeth. If you are thinking about having dental implant surgery, here is everything you need to know.

What are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are a type of prosthesis that dentists use to replace missing teeth. In comparison to dentures, dental implants are a more permanent option, while dentures are removable. Dental implants have a small titanium post that your dentist will insert into your jawbone to make permanent.

What to Expect From Dental Implant Surgery

Dental implant surgery is an invasive procedure that requires a detailed treatment plan. You will need a comprehensive dental exam to tailor the treatment plan to your situation—meaning X-rays, 3D scans, and impressions. How dental implant surgery is performed depends on your jawbone and the type of implant.

Bone Grafting and Tooth Extractions

Implant surgery sometimes requires several different procedures, including tooth extraction and/or bone grafting. Bone grafting is only required if your jawbone is too soft or not thick enough. If that is the case, bone grafting will provide your jaw with the foundation it needs to support the implants. Unfortunately, it may take several months for a bone graft to heal, delaying your implant surgery.

Once extractions and bone grafting are taken care of, your dentist will schedule the dental implant surgery. Dental implant surgery can often involve multiple steps, and much of that time is dedicated to healing. In some cases, you can combine procedures.

Placing the Dental Implant

Placing the dental implant requires holes to be drilled into the bone, where the metal implant will sit—this serves as the tooth root.

While the bone fuses with the dental implant, there will be a gap where your tooth is missing. This part can take several months and is necessary for the foundation of your new artificial tooth. During this time often temporary dentures are placed to help with appearance.

As soon as the jawbone unites with the dental implant, your dentist will be able to see if you need an additional abutment surgery. This is a minor outpatient procedure in which your dentist reopens the gums to access the implant and then places an abutment for your gums to heal around.

Choosing Artificial Teeth

After your gums heal, you will likely get more impressions done. Then you will work with your dentist to choose your artificial teeth, either removable, fixed, or a combination of both.

After Dental Implant Surgery

The stages of surgery may vary depending on the patient, but every patient who has received dental implants must practice excellent oral hygiene.

Dental implants won’t get cavities, but you will still need to care for them like you would take care of natural teeth, meaning you should still brush, floss, and visit your dentist regularly. Maintaining a clean mouth is vital to the health of your gums, and the health of your gums can affect the strength of your implants. Like natural teeth, the better you take care of your dental implants, the longer they will last.

Since Dental implants require invasive surgery, you will want to speak with a dentist who specializes in dental implants to see if dental implants are right for you. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Omid of El Segundo Modern Dentistry and Orthodontics to learn how he can help you achieve a healthy smile.

How Long Does it Take to Recover From Dental Implant Surgery?

Recovery time depends on the level of invasiveness and how many implants were placed. The implant's location in your mouth can also have a significant impact on recovery.

Whether your dentist performed the surgery in several steps or one step, you will experience a level of discomfort while recovering, including:

• Swelling of the face and gums
• Bruising on your gums
• Minor bleeding
• Pain at the implant site

Discomfort is all part of the healing process and can vary depending on the number of teeth you have extracted and implanted. Recovery can be uncomfortable, and how long it takes to heal can vary from patient to patient.

If your procedure required bone grafting, recovery might look a little different from a patient who did not have to undergo bone grafting. Also, your lifestyle and pain tolerance tend to play a major part in your recovery process. To help with the recovery process, you must maintain excellent oral hygiene and follow your dentist’s recovery instructions.

For simple dental implant procedures that do not require grafting or multiple implants, you will likely experience some level of discomfort, but it should not last longer than a few days. The expected recovery time is usually less than two weeks, and depending on what your dentist says, you should be able to return to your regular diet.

For more complex dental implant procedures, recovery can vary, but it is always best to listen to your dentist and inform them of any levels of discomfort that do not seem normal. There will likely be more pain and a longer recovery time when facing extractions, bone grafting, and multiple implants.

To help with recovery, your dentist will likely recommend soft food for around six weeks, and in some cases, your dentist might prescribe you something stronger than an over-the-counter pain reliever.

What Are the Dangers of Dental Implants?

Dental implants have a high success rate, but with surgery, there is always a potential risk.

One risk is the bone not fusing with the implant sufficiently. If this happens, your dentist will remove the implant, clean up the area, and try the procedure again in a few months.

There are risks of infections, bleeding disorders, allergic reactions, and numbness in all oral surgeries. Long-term complications are rare, and at El Segundo Modern Dentistry, we have the tools and knowledge to avoid these problems. So, when looking for a dentist in El Segundo, know that you can trust Dr. Omid Barkhordar to develop a safe and effective individualized treatment plan.

What Are the Advantages of Having Dental Implants?

The biggest advantage of dental implants is that they behave like natural teeth, restoring full chewing power. Once they fully heal, most patients can’t tell the difference between their natural teeth and the implants. They function and are taken care of in exactly the same way as natural teeth.

Missing teeth can result in bacteria getting caught in your gums, causing gum disease. Dental implants fill in those gaps helping to prevent gum-related issues. Another major benefit of dental implants is that they can last a lifetime, and unlike dentures, dental implants can stop bone loss, preventing facial sagging.

Are Dental Implants Worth it?

Come in for a consultation with Dr. Barkhordar to determine if you are a candidate for dental implants. He will answer all your questions about dental implants and help you weigh the pros and cons so you can make an informed decision. With so many benefits to dental implants, the risk is often worth the reward. Visit our website or call our dentist office in El Segundo today!