For patients who’ve suffered from tooth loss, treating the site(s) of any missing teeth is vital. Neglecting the site of tooth loss carries several potential downsides, including increased risk of infection, loss of jawbone density, shifting of teeth, and a deteriorated facial structure.
Among the multiple tooth replacement options available to patients, including dentures and dental bridges, the most effective and most durable are dental implants.
What Are Dental Implants and How Do They Work?
A dental implant is a small peg, usually made of titanium, that’s placed in the jawbone as a replacement for a natural tooth root. Once an implant is, well, implanted in a vacant “socket” in a patient’s jaw and allowed to fuse permanently with the bone through "osseointegration" it creates an excellent anchoring point for a tooth replacement solution like a porcelain crown. A properly p[laced implant is permanently in place and covered with a porcelain crown restores the form, function, and aesthetics of a natural tooth better than any other tooth replacement solution.
What sets dental implants apart is that they address tooth loss at the root itself, which helps to preserve the strength and density of the patient’s jawbone, which can deteriorate post-tooth loss if left untreated.
Breaking Down the Dental Implant Process
Wondering how exactly dental implant placement works? You’re in luck! We’ve put together a detailed breakdown of the full process:
- Consultation. In a consultation with a dental implant specialist, the patient’s oral health is evaluated, and X-rays and scans of their teeth and jawbone are taken.
- Treatment planning. Taking into account the extent of a patient’s tooth loss, the severity of the remaining damage, and the possible need for additional procedures like bone grafting, a tailored treatment plan is created.
- Tooth extraction (if necessary). If some of the damaged tooth is still present in the jawbone, it will be extracted and implant placement will be scheduled for when the area has healed.
- Bone grafting (if necessary). If the jawbone lacks the density to support an implant, bone material may be “grafted” to the natural bone to boost integrity.
- Implant placement. The actual implant placement procedure involves an incision into the gum tissue to expose the underlying bone, drilling a tiny hole for the implant, and the insertion of the implant into the hole.
- Osseointegration. Once the implant is in place, over a few months, it fuses permanently with the jawbone, which grows around the implant and creates strength and stability.
- Restoration. Once the patient's gums have properly healed, new impressions are taken, from which a final restoration, often a porcelain dental crown, is custom-crafted.
Precisely Placing Dental Implants and Pain-Free Oral Surgery in Fontana, CA
If you’re in the Fontana area and would like to learn the particulars of the dental implant process or any other oral surgery procedure like the extraction of wisdom teeth, contact dentist Dr. Mostafa Koperly and the Winning Smiles team to schedule a consultation!
