Why A Dental Implant Takes Time And Is Completed In Two Phases

Dentist Articles

A dental implant is an artificial tooth that consists of three main parts, which are the implant, the abutment, and the crown, and you cannot get an implant in just one visit. In fact, it may take months to complete the entire process. When you are ready to begin the first phase of the dental implant process, your dentist will insert the implant in your jawbone. After that is done, there are several things you should understand about the healing process needed in order to finish the dental implant procedure.

Healing Time Is Needed After The First Step Is Completed

Dental implants are usually completed in two visits, and there is usually a long waiting period between these two visits. The first visit is used to insert the implant, which is a device that is made of titanium alloy. This small device is placed inside your jawbone, and the second step of the procedure cannot be completed until your jawbone fuses with this device, which is referred to as osseointegration.

Osseointegration occurs at a different pace with everyone, but it typically takes longer for it to occur on a person's upper jaw. The normal amount of time it takes for osseointegration on a person's upper jaw is around six months, whereas the process occurs within around five months on the lower jaw.

The Healing Time Can Be Affected By Your Health And Habits

The length of time it takes for the process of osseointegration to occur can be affected by your health and habits, and this is one of the reasons it takes a different length of time with everyone that has this procedure completed. If you are extremely healthy, the process of osseointegration will occur more quickly.

If you have health problems, primarily ones that target your body's immune system, it may take a lot longer for osseointegration to occur. Health problems that affect a person's immune system often cause healing to take place at a slower pace, and this is why it may take longer for the process to be completed for people who have health problems. It's also important to realize that if you have health problems like this, you might be more prone to developing an infection at the site of the implant.

Bad habits, primarily smoking or consuming a lot of alcohol, can also slow down the healing process. Because of this, your dentist may recommend cutting these things out of your life while the implant heals. If you continue smoking and drinking heavily, you may encounter problems and delays with the healing of your implant.

The Procedure Is Complete When The Crown Is Put In Place

While the process of getting a dental implant is considered a two-phase procedure, there is a chance you may need to visit the dentist more than two times for the process to be completed. Your dentist may ask you to come back after three or four months to check the progress. During this visit, the dentist will take x-rays to determine if the bone and implant are properly fused together. If they are, you will be ready for your crown. If they are not, you will need to come back in a couple more months to have x-rays taken once again.

The purpose of checking the fusion of the bone and implant is simply to make sure the implant is securely in place. If it is not fused entirely to the bone, the abutment and crown will have a higher chance of coming loose or falling out.

Getting implants to replace the teeth you are missing is a great option for most people. If you would like to find out if you are a good candidate for this, talk to a dentist  like Richard L. Myers, DDS today.

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27 February 2017