Dental Implant Procedure
Burlington, MA
 The American Academy of Implant Dentistry says that over 500,000 dental implants are used in patients every year, with an estimated three million people in America having dental implants. Most people are turning towards implants vs dentures, dental bridges, and dental crowns. If you are preparing to get dental implants soon, you likely want to know what the procedure is like as well as the expectations from the surgery.
Dental Care of Burlington provides dental implant placement procedures to help reclaim your lost bite function and look. A dental implant procedure takes several steps ranging from the evaluation to extractions to the fabrication of implant crowns and the actual placement.
Evaluation for Dental Implant Procedure
Prior to approving an implant procedure, our dentist will do an evaluation. We conduct a thorough exam of the mouth to see if the jawbone is in a state that can allow the implants to hold firmly. We also use the exam information to decide on the implant procedure to perform. We take x-rays and 3D scans to check the position of the jaw and teeth.
Preparation for Implants
We will check your oral health and if we detect any oral health issues, our dentist will get them resolved before we commence the implant procedure. We may involve other specialists like periodontists based on your oral health. If there are decayed teeth needing extraction, our dentist will remove them. Additionally, if we find there is an insufficient amount of jawbone, we may rebuild the bone through grafting. These pre-implant procedures and treatments are crucial in ensuring a successful implantation process. We will also get mouth or teeth impressions for fabricating the crowns.
Placing the Dental Implant
Our dentist will insert the dental implant, which looks like a small screw, into the jawbone and fasten it. This is known as an endosteal implant. Alternatively, the dentist may do a subperiosteal implant, where the screw goes directly under the gum, on, or above your jawbone.
After adding the implant to the jawbone, we will allow time for it to grow and bond around the screw. The post then becomes part of the natural bone and gum line. It is a process that may last three to nine months before you come back in for the next stage.
Abutment Placement
After the implant has bonded to the bone and is stable, we will place an abutment. Usually, our dentist affixes the abutment to serve as a connector piece, where it holds the crown to the implant. We tighten the abutments, ensuring they will not loosen from day-to-day use of the new tooth.
You will not encounter any pain during the procedure since we do it under anesthesia. You will, however, feel a little pressure when working to affix the abutment. If the abutment is visible, we place a cap to prevent tissue and bone from growing atop the abutment.
Permanent Crown Placement
Once the gums heal, you will be ready to get the permanent crowns placed. You may choose between removable and permanent crowns. If you choose fixed crowns, our dentist will fit the crowns that have been fabricated from teeth molds or impressions obtained. We then fit the crown with dental cement.
Contact Dental Care of Burlington if you are interested in getting dental implants. Call us at 781-362-2260 to set up an appointment and find out if dental implants are safe for you. |
