Implant Placement
Dental implants in Irmo, South Carolina can be an ideal way to replace lost natural teeth. Implants are non-removable, look natural, and make it easier for you to speak and chew.
What to Expect during Your Initial Consultation for Implant Placement in Irmo, SC
At Peak Dental, we understand that you have a lot of questions about dental implants. For many patients, one of the first concerns they have is cost. We are happy to discuss the cost of services and our many payment options during your initial consultation. You should also expect to answer several questions about your general and oral health at this appointment.
Our dentist will take several X-rays of your jaws, gums, and any remaining natural teeth that you have during this first appointment. We will also take impressions of your top and bottom rows of teeth or the open space on each one. After removing the materials from your mouth that forms these impressions, our dentist sends the molds to our laboratory for the technicians to make customized replacement teeth.
The Dental Implant Placement Process
The process of receiving dental implants can be a long one, especially if you need all your natural teeth replaced. While each of the steps below may not apply to you, we provide a general outline to give you a better idea of how the entire process works.
Remove Diseased or Traumatized Teeth
Whether you took a baseball to the face or have such deep cavities that filling material cannot save your tooth, having the non-functioning teeth removed is the first step in this process. You won’t have to go through tooth extraction if you have already lost the diseased or damaged teeth.
Bone Grafting
The second step also won’t apply to every patient receiving dental implants. Sometimes, patients don’t have strong enough bone structure in the mouth to hold their new dental implants in place. When this occurs, our dentist removes a small portion of bone fragment from one area and transfers it to the area receiving the implants.
Dental Implant Placement
Typically, the bone grafting process doesn’t require extra healing time and you can move onto the next step right away. The term dental implant refers to the artificial tooth root that replaces each one you lost. The implant is tiny, made from titanium steel, and goes directly into your jawbone to help support the abutment and replacement tooth later.
Waiting for your jaw to heal after receiving the titanium steel rods should be the longest part of your healing process. However, it’s impossible to say upfront how long you will need to wait. Some patients are ready for the next step within a few weeks, while others need to wait a few months until healing of the jaw is complete.
Abutment Placement
An abutment is a small piece of metal that our dentist attaches to the dental implant to hold your new replacement tooth in place. This process involves making a small cut in your jaw to expose the implant, attaching it to the abutment, and closeing your exposed gum tissue.
Attach Replacement Teeth to Abutments
During your consultation, you will select replacement teeth that match the shade and shape of any remaining natural teeth as closely as possible. Our dentist attaches the artificial teeth to the abutments at your final appointment.
Are you ready to show a smile that makes you proud? Contact Peak Dental today to request your initial dental implant consultation.
Sources:
Dental implant surgery – Mayo Clinic
