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Dental Implants: What Are They & How Do They Work?

Dental implants are medical devices surgically inserted into the jaw to improve a person’s look or ability to chew. They offer support for dentures, bridges, and other artificial teeth, like crowns.

What Are Dental Implants?

A dental implant is a tiny post that replaces the tooth’s root, which is often composed of titanium. The top of the dental implant is fitted with or has an abutment built into it, which joins it to the prosthetic tooth. A crown completes the dental implant, and your dentist makes a substitute tooth to match your original teeth.

How Do Dental Implants Work?

Dental implants have been successfully used for the past 40 years. Like artificial tooth roots, implants are put carefully into the jawbone to support false teeth. The difference is that implants are composed of titanium, which is biocompatible. Dental implants fully integrate with human bone; healthy bone fuses to the titanium surface, securing the implant firmly. Then, fixed crowns and bridges can be supported by these implants. They can replace a single tooth or a whole arch of lost teeth. Additionally, you can utilize them to stabilize a loose or unpleasant denture.

How Long Does  A Dental Implant Procedure Take?

The next step is to anchor the titanium rod into the jawbone, presuming you don’t need a sinus graft or bone augmentation before fitting an implant. The procedure can take one to two hours per implant, and most implant dentists will place a temporary crown after it is complete.

How To Find An Implant Dentist Near Me?

  • A person may lose a tooth due to an accident or dental problems. The dentist may suggest the patient see a dental specialist with extensive knowledge of implant placement. The same is true for a cosmetic dentist treating a patient who needs dental implants to improve their smile. Cosmetic dentists frequently collaborate with prosthodontists or oral surgeons licensed to operate on patients requiring dental implants. In any case, the first call is likely to be a general dentist.
  • Patients who know people who have dental implants that perform well should inquire about the name and contact information of the implant dentist who completed the successful procedure.
  • AAID is an organization of licensed dental implant specialists. They have a list of every member and details on where each one is located. A prospective patient needs only go to the AAID website and search for local dental implant specialists.
  • After compiling a list of potential implant dentists, a person should research each dentist on the list by visiting their websites and reading customer reviews. For each dentist, the person should also search for unaffiliated patient reviews.
  •  You must have narrowed your list by now. Visit their offices to learn more about them.

What To Eat After Your Dental Implant Surgery?

After dental implant surgery, stick to soft foods that don’t require much chewing. You must limit your diet to very soft or liquid foods on the first day after your therapy. To avoid biting or chewing on your tongue during surgery, anesthetics are utilized. Smoothies, yogurt, ice cream, pudding, applesauce, mashed potatoes, creamy soups and broth, and other similar soft/liquid foods should be consumed right after surgery, per our recommendations. The following week, you can move on to foods like macaroni and cheese, pancakes, rice, soft bread, cooked vegetables, eggs, and spaghetti that could require a little bit more chewing. After one to two weeks, you might be able to start adding rough and chewy items like meat and fibrous raw vegetables back into your diet. However, this will depend on how soon you heal. You shouldn’t chew on the side of your mouth with the implant for at least two weeks.

Dental implants can help to get rid of issues related to missing teeth. We hope this blog helps you to make better decisions about your implants. Visit our office for more instructions.