Taking good care of your teeth is something that your parents had constantly drilled into you. But, sometimes, no matter how good your oral health care habits are, you end up losing a tooth or several teeth. Teeth, unfortunately, usually don’t last a lifetime. At some point, whether it’s due to not taking care of your teeth, having a tooth knocked out, or old age, you may need to consider getting your teeth replaced. For many years, the only option was to get removable dentures. But today, you can opt to get permanent dentures, which are also known as dental implants. This procedure can be done by a Dentist in Honolulu.
Pre-Surgery
Your mouth will need to be prepared for dental implants. This typically means that your Dentist in Honolulu will need you to have an MRI so he can see the structure of your jawbone, which will support the dental implants. You see, dental implants are not the new teeth themselves, but they are replacement roots for your new teeth. The implants get put directly into your jawbone. Therefore, your jawbone needs to be healthy and strong, and wide enough to take the implant. If it’s not, you may need to have a bone graft done. This may involve taking some bone tissue from your hip bone and putting it on your jawbone so it can be stronger and larger. While this may seem intense, it is necessary for some people.
Surgery
An incision will be made for each dental implant. If you are getting an entire arch for your permanent denture, the dentist may place 4 dental implants to hold the arch. After the incisions are made, the dentist will form holes in your jawbone for the dental implants. On top of each implant, an abutment will be placed. The permanent denture will then be bonded to the abutments.
Post-Surgery
The recovery period after your surgery will be rather lengthy, as far as the healing process for the implants goes. They will naturally bond to your jawbone over time through a natural process called oseointegration. This simply means the bone will form around the implants and secure them in place. You shouldn’t feel too much discomfort after your surgery. If you do, follow the recommendations of your dentist and call him as soon as possible.
If dental implants interest you, check out this site for more information.
