Getting dental implants to replace damaged or missing teeth can be a long process. Many patients wonder about the effects of getting a dental implant before and after their surgery.
The dental implant procedure is divided into several steps, each with its own recovery time. Our dentists can discuss the specifics of care and create a custom treatment plan for you.
Your Quality of Life and Dental Implant Before and After
If you are suffering from damaged teeth, it can severely affect your quality of life. A 2017 study found patients had trouble eating before getting a dental implant. They avoided food and felt they had to limit their dietary choices. After they received their dental implants, their quality of life improved, including the ability to eat, speak, and smile again.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Once the dental implant surgery and recovery process is complete, you’ll enjoy plenty of benefits associated with your dental implants.
- They look and feel like natural teeth. Dental implants are the most realistic tooth replacement option available. Since they fuse to the jawbone, they restore your chewing function and improve your speech.
- They’re permanent. Dental implants are a permanent solution to missing teeth. However, the dental crown may need to be replaced eventually.
- They can improve your oral health. Since the implant post acts like a natural tooth root, the implant stimulates the jawbone, preventing bone resorption.
Risk Factors to Consider with a Dental Implant Before and After
In your consultation for dental implants, your dentist considers these factors if you have the following conditions:
Gum disease can affect your dental implant
Gum disease can cause bone loss and infection around the dental implant. Severe gum disease can also weaken the bone density in your jawbone.
If you have symptoms of periodontitis, your dentist may recommend treating them first with antibiotics or scaling and planning. Your dentist may also recommend you undergo a bone graft or sinus augmentation to boost bone tissue to support a dental implant before and after surgery.
Diabetes must be under control
Those with Type-1 or Type-2 diabetes are more likely to experience dental implant failure. Dental implants are still an option to replace lost teeth, but they may need pre-and post-operative care to minimise the risk of failure.
Your dentist may recommend delaying implant placement until your diabetes is under control if you have poor management of your condition.
Osteoporosis may affect the placement of the dental implant
Osteoporosis can affect the fusion of dental implants to the bone, known as osseointegration. Your dentist will review your medical history and see if you are still a viable candidate before suggesting implants.
Smoking can increase the risk of dental implant failure
If you are a smoker, your dentist may recommend you stop smoking to let the implant fuse into your jaw. Smoking reduces blood flow to the mouth because of nicotine, slowing the healing process.
What to Expect in Surgery for Dental Implants
Following your dental implants consultation, a dentist performs dental implant surgery in phases, with recovery intervals in between. The dental implant placement process includes:
Dental implant placement
The dental implant procedure may take one to two hours to place each implant post. Your dentist will advise you to limit your physical activities for at least 48 hours after surgery. They may also tell you to eat a soft food diet and chew on the other side of your mouth to prevent irritation around the implant site.
With proper aftercare, the site takes 1 to 2 weeks to heal. The dental implant can take between 3 to 6 months to osseointegrate with your jawbone, at which point it’s ready to support an abutment and crown restoration.
Abutment placement
An abutment connects the implant post to the crown. While you are under local anaesthetic, your dentist reopens the implant site to place the abutment and closes the gum tissue around it. Your dentist creates an impression of your mouth and implant site to send to a dental laboratory for fabrication of your crown.
Crown placement
The laboratory takes 2 to 3 weeks to create the crown while you recover from the abutment placement. You revisit our practice so your dentist can fit the dental crown and cement it in place.
There may be some discomfort during the healing process at every step of the dental implant procedure. Symptoms including swelling, bleeding, and bruising in your gums and face are normal for the first couple of days post-op. If these symptoms worsen, contact your dentist right away.
Book Your Consultation Today
Regular visits to your dentist can help you maintain your smile and dental implants for years. Contact us to schedule a consultation to find out if you are a candidate for dental implants and what the process entails, so you can begin your journey to a healthy and beautiful smile.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
References
Comparing the Quality of Life of Patients Requesting Dental Implants Before and After Implant
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5646019/
Tobacco smoking and surgical healing of oral tissues: a review
Dental implant survival in diabetic patients; review and recommendations
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3961886/
Dental Implants In Patients With Osteoporosis – A Review
http://biomedpharmajournal.org/?p=16108
Dental implant surgery
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/dental-implant-surgery/about/pac-20384622
