Dealing with missing teeth and thinking about getting dental implants in Glastonbury, CT? You’ve come to the right place!
These artificial teeth are an effective solution to restore your smile long-term – even for the rest of your life with the right care. But if you’ve been looking into this procedure, then you probably know the road to getting dental implants isn’t exactly short.
Here’s a quick overview of the dental implant timeline, and what you should expect at each stage:
STAGE 1: YOUR INITIAL CONSULTATION
Dental implants have a 98% success rate thanks to a rigorous screening process that takes place before the surgery.
To get a dental implant, a dentist will first make sure you:
- Are not allergic to titanium
- Have enough bone density and a healthy jawbone
- Have healthy gums
- Don’t suffer from diabetes, chronic arthritis, or other illnesses that could affect your body’s healing ability
This stage is usually done in one visit, after which you can move on to the second step of the implant process.
STAGE 2: DENTAL IMPLANT SURGERY
The surgery is a rather straightforward procedure that will only keep you at the dentist’s office for a couple of hours.
A metal post is surgically inserted into the jaw bone to replace the missing tooth root. After this, the timeline will slow down tremendously.
STAGE 3: OSSEOINTEGRATION
This term refers to the process of your body healing around the metal post. The bone, gums, and surrounding tissues will fuse to the titanium, and the implant will act just like a natural tooth.
Unfortunately, this process can take around six months on average, so you will need to be patient. You can speed things along slightly by:
- Having good oral hygiene habits
- Not smoking or drinking alcohol
- Chewing on the other side of the mouth for a few days
- Resting and skipping the gym the first week after surgery
STAGE 4: ABUTMENT AND CROWN IMPRESSION
Throughout these six months, you’ll still need to go in for some routine check-ups just so the dentist can make sure you’re healing properly.
Once the osseointegration is done, the dentist will attach the abutment and take an impression of the tooth to make the dental crown. This is one in one appointment, but it can take around 1-2 weeks for the custom crown to be ready.
STAGE 5: DENTAL CROWN ATTACHMENT
Finally, when the dental crown is ready, you’ll go in for your last appointment and get it attached to the abutment.
After that, your implant procedure is complete, and all you’ll have to do from here on is take care of your oral health and get routine check-ups.
FIND OUT IF IMPLANTS ARE RIGHT FOR YOU
Don’t wonder if implants are a good solution for you. Meet with Dr. Sinha to get the definitive answer!
Request a visit to PS Dental online or call (860) 266-1828.