By now, you have probably heard about implants and might be facing the dilemma of missing teeth. Unfortunately, the decision is not as straightforward or as quick as stepping inside a dental practice and boasting a broad smile soon afterwards. There are lots to consider and safety measure in place to ensure that you are a suitable candidate for this life-altering surgery.
Read this article for a better understanding of high dental implants and the step-by-step processes involved in obtaining a smile makeover.
Step one: find a dentist
Ask for personal recommendations from friends or referrals from medical professionals. It is essential that you do your homework and shop around before deciding on a dental practitioner. The price for high dental implants in Melbourne might vary from practice-to-practice, but avoid treatments that are offered at a fraction of the average cost unless you are considering getting implants abroad.
For the best results, look up specialists in your area, they might cost more than a general dentist, but you want an expert in the field of implantology whose sole focus is to perform these procedures daily, over an oral health provider who performs the surgery only occasionally.
Step two: the initial consultation
Before you can undergo surgery, your dentist will need to establish whether you are even a suitable candidate for implants by examining your mouth, teeth and gums.
You might find that you need bone grafts or a professional tooth cleaning before the implants are inserted.
If you pass the health requirements for implants, your dentist will discuss your treatment options with you and explain the subsequent steps, including implant insertion, followed by temporary crown, abutment and permanent crown placement.
Step three: implant insertion
Implant placement is the surgical procedure that involves drilling titanium screws into the bone where the missing tooth stood, which is part of the implant that will hold your crown in place.
Step four: temporary crown placement
It will take a couple of months for the titanium of the screw and your surrounding bone to fuse in a process called osseointegration.
Once fully healed, a healing cap is placed on top of the screw to help the gum tissue heal properly and keeps the gums away from the implant. A temporary crown is also placed atop the screw while your permanent crown is made in the laboratory.
Step five: the abutment
An abutment is the piece that links the crown to the metal post is connected to the screw.
Step six: final fitting of the permanent crown
A crown is created that fits your mouth precisely – this final piece of the implant is either screwed to the metal post or cemented into place.
You can choose to have a partial or fixed crown, depending on your preference.
The takeaway
Implants comprise multiple dental visits spanning over weeks or months.
Implants are not a quick fix, and you might have to wait several months before your smile makeover takes place. That said, the wait is well worth it, considering how long you have sported a gummy mouth that makes you feel self-conscious.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
