The Process of Getting Dental Implants in Woodbridge to Restore Your Smile

Dental implants provide individuals who are missing one or more teeth a chance to restore appearance and function to their mouth. The next best thing to having healthy and natural teeth is dental implants.

So, what can you expect during a procedure for dental implants in Woodbridge ON?

Dental implant surgery is typically an outpatient procedure conducted in various stages:

• The damaged tooth is taken out.
• The jawbone is readied for surgery, a procedure which may include bone grafting.
• The surgeon will place the metal post into the jawbone.
• The recovery period may be several months long.
• The oral surgeon installs the abutment (an extension of the metal post). In certain cases, when the implant is steady, this step is performed at the same time as implant placement.
• The dentist will create molds of the teeth and jawbone, and after the soft tissue heals, they will place and secure the final tooth.

The process can be spread over a period of several months. A large part of that time is spent waiting for new bone to develop in your jaw.

Need for bone grafting

You might need a bone graft before dental implant surgery if your jawbone is not sufficient or is too soft. The reason behind this is that the strong chewing action of the mouth expends a lot of pressure on the jawbone, and if the bone cannot support the dental implant, the surgery could fail. Bone grafting can provide a sturdier foundation for the implant.

In the bone grafting procedure, a piece of bone is taken out of another part of the mouth or body. Alternatively, commercially available new bone can be used. It can take many months for the implanted bone to grow sufficient new bone to support a dental implant.

In certain cases, you may require only minor grafting which can be performed at the time of the implant surgery. The state of your jawbone signals how the procedure for your dental implant in Woodbridge ON will be conducted.

Dental implant procedure

Dental implant surgery involves the oral surgeon making a cut to open the gums and expose the bone. The, hole is drilled in the bone at the location where the metal post needs to be placed. The post serves as a tooth root, and it is embedded deep into the bone.

At this stage of the process, you will still have a visible gap where the tooth is missing. A temporary or partial denture can be placed at this location for appearance, if required. You can take the denture out for cleaning and when sleeping.

Time for bone growth

The process of osseointegration commences once the implant is installed in your jawbone. During this process, the jawbone grows and fuses with the implant surface. This process takes many months and offers a strong base for your new tooth or teeth and works just like roots do for real teeth.

Placement of the abutment

After the process of osseointegration, you may require further surgery for placing the abutment which is the part where the dental crown will attach at the end. This small surgery is performed as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia.

To install the abutment

The oral surgeon opens the gums to expose the implant. Then, the abutment is joined to the implant.

In some cases, the abutment is joined to the post when the implant is placed. This helps avoid an additional surgical step. However, the abutment exceeds past the gum line, and it is apparent when the mouth opens. This situation will remain till the dentist finalizes the prosthesis. A few people are not happy with this appearance and choose to have the abutment placement done in a separate stage.

Choosing your new teeth

The gums should heal for a week or two after the abutment is placed before the new tooth can be placed. After the gums recover, you will need to have additional impressions made. These impressions are then used to develop the crown – your natural looking new tooth. The dental crown cannot be installed until the jawbone is sturdy enough to withstand the use of the new tooth. For a safe and successful procedure, you should choose a professional and experienced dentist for dental implants in Woodbridge ON.