Dental Implants: The Gold Standard for Natural-Looking and Long-Lasting Tooth Replacement

You can lose teeth due to several reasons like decay, gum disease, or trauma. This can negatively impact your oral health. Addressing missing teeth promptly with appropriate dental treatment is essential for maintaining oral health, restoring function, and enhancing overall quality of life

The specialists offering dental practice in Hunt Valley, MD expertise in teeth replacement solutions in the form of dental implants. Read on to learn how these devices are inserted to offer permanent teeth replacements. 

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are modern oral devices that are surgically embedded into your jawbone to mimic the lost tooth roots. These prosthetics are often made up of titanium alloys and are available in the form of screw-like posts. This structure enables them to insert themselves firmly, fusing with the jawbone through a process called osseointegration. 

How is a dental implant inserted?

Here is a detailed description of the procedure involved in the insertion of dental implants. 

• Initial consultation
  1. Your dentist will first evaluate your oral cavity and the edentulous space. 
  2. Necessary dental radiographs will be taken to assess your bone health to determine your eligibility for the surgery.
  3. Your dentist will plan your treatment according to your goals and expectations.
• Preparation
  1. Once the required bone assessment is made, your dentist will check if you need any additional treatments such as tooth extractions or bone grafting, before the implant surgery.
• Implant placement
  1. You will receive local anesthesia or sedation to ensure comfort during the procedure. 
  2. The dentist will then make a gum incision to raise a flap.
  3. This will expose the jawbone.
  4. The dentist will create a small hole in the bone for the implant placement.
  5. The implant will be inserted and the gum tissues will be sutured to close the incision.
• Osseointegration 
  1. This is the main phase when healing begins and the implant fuses with the bone.
• Placement of the abutment 
  1. Once the implant is fully integrated with the jawbone your dentist will perform a second minor surgery to attach the abutment to the implant.
  2. An abutment is a connector between the implant and the replacement tooth.
• Placing the replacement tooth
  1. The final restorations are attached to the abutments using dental cement or screws. 

Conclusion

Dental implant surgery is a highly effective and reliable method to replace missing teeth permanently. These revolutionary prostheses restore oral functions and aesthetics, improving your quality of life. With proper planning, skilled execution, and good post-procedure care dental implants can be durable and long-lasting.