Dental Implants – Understanding The Treatment Process
At Central Periodontics, we understand that for some patients, the process of treatment for getting a dental implant can sound confusing or scary. Our approach for helping lessen any of these stresses is to explain the process and address any questions you may have about the treatment process.
Whether you have had a failed root canal treatment, or your tooth is being affected by periodontal disease or tooth decay, you may be wondering whether you should have a dental implant for your missing tooth, or, if another treatment like a partial denture or a dental bridge is better.
The good news is that you can have dental implants for your front teeth, and this procedure is quite common. Many patients can and do opt for a dental implant to replace a single missing tooth, or even multiple teeth that are damaged, especially among the upper front teeth.
This is because replacement teeth from implant treatment not only can look just like natural teeth but also help preserve the health of your teeth and gums. In addition, an implant crown is more stable than a removable dental prosthetic like a denture, and is less invasive to the neighbouring teeth than bridges.
In this article, we’ll take you through the basics of a treatment plan for replacing your natural front tooth with a dental implant.
Let’s get started, and discuss the basics of the treatment process now.
Understanding Bone Grafting – What Is It, And How Does It Work?
If interested in a front tooth dental implant, you may have heard the term “bone grafting”, and you may be wondering what it is, and whether or not you will need a bone graft before your periodontist places the implant.
Let’s go over the basics of bone grafting now, and who needs it – and who doesn’t.
Bone grafting is used to provide a stable base for a dental implant after severe bone loss. The concept behind the procedure is quite simple – using bone, sometimes from another area of your body, or, more often, from a specialised bone grafting material, your periodontist surgically implants healthy bone below the implant site, where the tooth root used to be.
This provides a healthy and strong “base”, upon which the dental implant can rest. Over a period of around 3-6 months, the bone will heal, and bond with the surrounding jaw and gum tissue, in order to form a healthy platform for the future dental implant.
In some cases, where only minor to moderate bone grafting is required, the procedure may be done simultaneously, at the same time that the dental implant is placed. However, this may not be suitable in all situations but only when you have good oral health and a good oral care regimen and the bone loss in your jaw is not severe.
Why Might I Need Bone Grafting For A Front Tooth Dental Implant?
So, why would you need a bone graft? Here are a few reasons that your jaw bone may not be healthy enough for a direct dental implant without bone grafting.
* Tooth loss – When you lose a tooth, the gum and jaw tissue that used to support the tooth tend to recede and become weaker, as there is no tooth structure for it to support. This means that if you have lost a tooth but have not had it treated for several years you can end up with quite a bit of bone loss
* Gum disease – Serious cases of gum disease can cause chronic inflammation of the jaw. Over time, this destroys the structure of the jaw and causes tooth loss, among other symptoms and issues. If you have had gum disease, you will almost certainly need a bone graft to get a dental implant.
* Oral trauma – Oral trauma may also require the use of a bone graft for a front tooth implant. If the gum and jaw are damaged or destroyed, it may need to be restored after it has healed, in order to ensure that the implant has a proper base, and can properly attach to the gum and jaw tissue.
Understanding the Process Of Placing A Front Tooth Dental Implant
The process of placing a front tooth dental implant is quite similar to any other dental implant procedure. The procedure is quite straightforward.
First, Dr. Bikram Sethi at Central Periodontics will numb the area to be treated, clean it, and make a small incision to place the dental implant. Then, the area is cleaned and disinfected, stitched, and allowed to heal. It usually takes 2-6 months for osseointegration (the implant bonding to the gum and jaw) to occur.
After this waiting process, a crown is manufactured to match your front teeth and placed on to your implant, thereby completing the procedure.
Contact Central Periodontics Now For An Appointment
If you are interested in front teeth dental implants in Canberra, contact Central Periodontics right away. Dr. Bikram Sethi has years of experience placing implants, and can provide you with the best results. So don’t wait – restore your smile today!
For Central Periodontics & Dental Implants Canberra please call 02 6247 6555.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.