How Dental Implants Are Installed

Tooth loss used to be a serious problem for many people, since there was previously no other way to replace a lost tooth than to use dentures. Many people weren’t keen on the idea of using dentures, because the procedures required them to have teeth extracted in order to fit a partial denture. Today, however, people can count on many tooth restoration procedures in case of tooth loss. Dental implants are used in the placement of many dental restoration devices today. Despite the high costs, many people opt for dental implant placement. This is because the implant provides for sturdier, more long-lasting tooth replacements. Moreover, dental implants can also be used with dental prostheses such as dentures, bridges and crowns. People don’t have to worry about the implants’ compatibility with the gums and teeth, because most dental implants are made from titanium. Titanium is a biocompatible metal that doesn’t pose any threats to the human body. The implants are also safely placed in the jawbones through careful surgical procedures. Sarasota implant dentistry surgery requires the exposure of the jawbone during the process of implant placement. The implant dentist administers local anesthesia to the mouth before exposing the bones. To expose the bone, the dentist may cut a part of the gums where the implant will be installed. Once the bones are exposed, a base will be installed inside the bone. The base is locked and secured by a screw. Once the base is installed, the dentist sews the incision back up. When the base is properly healed, the Sarasota implant dentist conducts a second surgery. In the second surgery, a temporary crown is attached to the implant, to allow osseointegration to take place. Osseointegration may take several months, depending on the implant’s position. Lower jaw implants tend to integrate with the jawbone faster than upper jaw implants. Once the gums and jawbone adapt to the temporary crown, the Sarasota implant dentist replaces the crown with a prosthetic tooth. This prosthetic tooth is mounted on the implant itself. In some cases, implant dentists immediately place the prosthetic tooth on the implant, as this is more convenient for their patients. Recovering from dental implant placement may take some time, since the gums and jawbones need to properly adapt to the implants.