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What stages are involved in the procedure for acquiring dental implants?

Comprehensive Oral Evaluation

The first step towards receiving dental implants begins with a comprehensive assessment in a family dental practice. During this assessment, the patient undergoes a comprehensive examination of their dental and medical background. Additionally, a thorough oral inspection is conducted. Imaging techniques like X-rays and CT scans are employed to evaluate bone health and detect potential issues that may affect the success of the implant.

Creating a Customised Approach

Based on the initial assessments, a custom treatment plan is developed. This plan addresses specific oral care needs and outlines the sequence of procedures required. It’s crucial at this stage for the dentist to explain all aspects of the process, including the surgical procedure, recovery, and aftercare, ensuring the patient has realistic expectations.

Addressing Preliminary Needs

If any preliminary treatments are needed—such as extractions of failing teeth or treatment of existing gum disease—these are performed to prepare the mouth for implant surgery. This stage is essential to ensure the area is free of infection and ready for the next steps.

The Placement Procedure

Tooth implant placement is a surgical procedure performed under local anaesthesia, with sedation options available for patient comfort. During the surgery, small titanium posts are implanted into the jawbone to serve as the roots of the missing teeth. Precision and care during this phase are vital to align the implants correctly with existing dental structures.

Bone Integration

After the implants are placed, the osseointegration process begins. This critical phase involves the jawbone naturally healing around the implants, securing them into place. This integration process can take several months and is crucial for providing a stable foundation for the new teeth.

Finalising the Restoration

Once osseointegration is complete, the next surgical step involves attaching an abutment to each implant. This component serves as a connection between the implant and the final prosthetic. After the abutments are in place, impressions of the mouth are taken to custom-design the prosthetic teeth, which could be crowns, bridges, or dentures.

Ensuring Successful Healing

After the surgical procedure, patients might undergo some swelling and discomfort, which commonly diminishes in a few days. Proper oral care during this recovery period is paramount, including gentle cleaning around the surgical sites and adherence to prescribed medication to prevent infection.

Commitment to Oral Health

After the prosthetics are attached, regular follow-up visits to the dental practice are essential. These visits allow the dentist to monitor the implants and ensure the surrounding tissues remain healthy. Long-term success also relies on the patient maintaining excellent oral hygiene and attending regular check-ups and cleanings as part of ongoing restorative dentistry.

What causes bad breath?

Bad breath is often caused by bacteria in the mouth breaking down food particles left on the teeth, gums, and tongue. This process leads to the production of unpleasant odours.

What is cosmetic dentistry?

Cosmetic dentistry is a field within dental care that utilises the latest techniques and procedures in cosmetic dental surgery to enhance the appearance of teeth and smiles. It aims to improve aesthetic attributes such as colour, size, and alignment of teeth.