Dental Implants: What to Expect

Dental implants are a common solution to those missing teeth or a group of teeth. If you are going to be getting dental implants in Indianapolis soon, you probably want to know a little bit about them so you understand what to expect. You must first know what they are and how they work, and how it is put into your mouth.

What They Are

A dental implant is used to replace a single tooth or an entire group of teeth. Unlike dentures, they cannot be taken out so they are a permanent replacement. The implant is held in place with a titanium screw which will act as the root of the tooth. The screw will go into the bone of the jaw, and over time the bone will accept the screw and grow around it as it would a regular root. The fake tooth is attached to the screw and can be made of different materials depending on what the patient wants. An implant feels slightly different than a regular tooth, though it should appear the same as long as it is well-taken care of.

How They Are Installed

Dental implants in Indianapolis are put into the mouth in a surgical procedure. A dental surgeon will look at x-rays and the mouth to determine the best way to put the implant in. This requires a consultation, or multiple consultations, before the surgery. In the procedure, the surgeon will carefully drill a small hole where the screw will go. Using slightly larger drills each time, they will get the hole to the size it needs to be. The screw will be placed in the bone without a crown. Time will have to be given for the bone to accept the screw as a root before the crown can be placed over the screw. This requires a different amount of time for each patient, though it usually takes anywhere from two to six months before the crown can be placed. It is very important that the screw is properly set before a crown is placed, or else it will have to be removed and heal before the process can start over.

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