Understanding the Dental Implant Procedure

Considering a dental implant procedure? Dental implants are ideal solutions when you’ve lost a permanent tooth due to extraction or trauma. Replacing a natural tooth with a dental implant not only restores the appearance of your smile, but it restores function, too. You can bite, grind, and chew with a dental implant just like you can with your natural tooth. And having implant surgery soon after losing your tooth will prevent more serious dental problems in the future. Talk with your dentist in Scottsdale, AZ, to learn more about the benefits of dental implants.

Do I Need Surgery to Have a Dental Implant?

This procedure is called dental implant surgery because a dental surgeon must perform it. In reality, it bears little resemblance to other types of surgery. In simplified terms, it involves placing a post, usually made of titanium, into your gum and giving it time to bond with your jawbone. Once the post has bonded, or osseointegrated, with the bone, your dentist places an abutment on top. Last, they’ll add the crown, which is a hollow shell that looks like a real tooth. Once the crown is in place, your procedure is complete.

Will I Need Follow-Up Care for a Dental Implant?

Your dentist will schedule a follow-up appointment for you, just to see how everything is progressing with your new implant. But aside from a quick exam, there’s no special care required afterward. As long as you treat your new implant like a real tooth, brushing and flossing regularly, it should last a lifetime. You may have to have the crown replaced every ten or fifteen years, however, due to regular wear and tear. To learn more about the benefits of dental implants in Scottsdale, AZ, call Waldman Dental Group today.