If a top dentist has recommended tooth implants for your missing or damaged teeth, you may have questions about this procedure. Dental implants are an excellent solution for missing teeth because they can help to preserve your oral health while improving the function of your teeth and the appearance of your smile. There are several steps involved in the dental implant process.
Evaluation and Bone Grafting
Your dentist will begin the dental implant process by evaluating your tooth and jaw bone. For patients whose jawbone lacks the density to hold a dental implant, their dentist may recommend a bone graft procedure as the first step. If the area around the site of your missing tooth has sufficient bone density, your oral surgeon can proceed with the implant surgery .
Surgery and Implantation
To place the dental implant, your dentist will make an incision in your gums to expose the jaw bone. Next, a hole is drilled into the bone at the implant site. Your oral surgeon will then insert the dental implant, which is a small, metal rod that is typically made of titanium. Once the implant is in place, your dentist will close the incision and provide you with a temporary denture to fill the gap that remains in your teeth. You will wear the denture until the bone has had sufficient time to integrate with the implant.
Abutment and Tooth Replacement
Once your dentist has determined that your bone has healed and grown around the dental implant, he can then place the abutment, which is the fixture to which your replacement tooth will be attached. In some cases, the abutment will already be fixed to your dental implant, allowing for this step to be skipped. Lastly, your dentist will affix your artificial tooth, which is designed to fit and look like your original tooth, to the implant to fill the gap in your teeth.
If you want to see one of the best dentists in New York for your dental implants in NYC, call Park 56 Dental today at (646) 783-3529.