A single tooth implant offers a sturdy, natural-looking, and permanent restoration for one missing tooth. When you lose a tooth, it could destroy your smile, make eating uncomfortable, and could dent your self-esteem. Implant-supported restorations are a solid option in which the custom-made crown rests firmly on the implant. Differently from bridges, the single implant doesn’t rely on the neighboring teeth for support. Knowing exactly what steps to expect through the process of acquiring a single implant can help ease one’s anxieties toward a successful restoration. If you are contemplating your options for tooth replacement, consulting with experienced Delray Beach Dentists or a local specialist is the first step to a full and healthy smile.
The single dental implant processes usually comprise several phases before the dentist continuously offers an implant-legged crown function and aesthetic beauty:
1. Comprehensive Evaluation and Treatment Planning:
Your journey starts with a complete evaluation by a dentist. This entails reviewing medical and dental history during an initial consultation, an oral examination, and diagnostic imaging such as X-rays or, less commonly, CBCT. These images are necessary for assessing bone density and determining accurate locations for implant placement so that the procedure avoids impinging on nerves and sinuses. Records of your teeth may also be taken to prepare study casts. Based on this evaluation your dentist will accordingly come up with your own personalized treatment plan that encompasses the entire process, type of implant, timeline, and fees.
2. Extraction of Tooth (if necessary):
If the tooth to be replaced is still present but cannot be restored, then it must be extracted. Sometimes an implant is being inserted straight after the extraction: which is called immediate implant placement. But more often than not, a healing period of some weeks to months is needed to allow the extraction site to heal well and for bone regeneration.
3. Implant Placement:
Surgically placing the dental implant is the next step in critical order. This minor surgical procedure is usually done under local anesthesia to keep your comfort during it. Small incisions are made on the gum tissues to expose the jawbone. A hole is drilled in the bone at the precise location guided by the planning phase. Then, the titanium implant, basically a tiny screw, is inserted gently into the site prepared for it. Sometimes a temporary healing cap may be seated on the implant to shield it during healing.
4. Osseointegration (Healing Period):
After the implant is positioned within the jawbone, osseointegration begins, which is the healing part. It is a slow process where the surrounding jawbone is gradually fused with the titanium implant. This process may require a few to many months, and it varies depending on how quickly one can heal coupled with the bone density. In this period, this implant becomes a sturdy integrated part of your jaw upon which a strong future crown can be set. You may be advised to consume a soft diet for the first few days and maintain excellent oral hygiene.
5. Abutment Placement:
At this point, the implant must be secured, and an abutment will be placed. The abutment is a small connector post that connects to the implant and acts as an anchor for the dental crown. Placement of an abutment may require a slight surgical procedure to expose the top of the implant if it was covered by gum tissue during the healing phase. The healing cap is removed, and the abutment is screwed into the implant. Sometimes, the abutment can be placed at the same time as the implant.
6. Crown Fabrication and Placement:
Next, the process of creating and placing the dental crown will begin. Your dentist will send the crown impressions to a dental laboratory, where an expert technician will fabricate a crown that perfectly matches your natural teeth in shade, shape, and size to fit seamlessly with your smile. After the crown has been fabricated, you will return to your dentist to cement the implant-supported crown securely onto the abutment, concluding the restoration of the single tooth.
Post-Implant Care:
The maintenance of good oral hygiene will undoubtedly ensure the long-term survival of your implant. This maintenance includes proper brushing, flossing, and regular general dentist visits. When taken care of properly, a single dental implant can last for years serving as an excellent aesthetic fill for your missing tooth, as well as a firm and useful option. Consulting with established dentists in Delray Beach or a competent dental professional near you will attribute individual guidance throughout the whole single implant process.
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