Choosing dental implants in Jonesboro to replace your missing teeth is both an exciting and daunting decision to make. Investing in your smile with this modern restorative procedure will offer you countless benefits, but not knowing exactly what to expect from the process can cause you to feel anxious or worried. To help ease any anxiety you may have, it’s a good idea to have a basic outline of what each of your visits with your dentist will be like along the way. Read on to learn everything there is to know about getting dental implants.
The Initial Consultation
To start your journey towards a restored smile, you’ll need to schedule an initial consultation. During this appointment, your dentist will assess your oral health and facial structure to determine whether or not you’re a good candidate for the procedure. This thorough process helps reduce the chances of implant failure and complications that you could experience down the road by making sure that your restorations are secured to a strong and stable foundation. This is also a great chance to ask your implant dentist any questions you may have.
Placing Your Dental Implants
Before some patients are able to jump right into their dental implant surgery, they may require preparatory procedures such as a bone graft, sinus lift, or periodontal therapy. Once your mouth has healed, your dentist will schedule your implant placement. This is a virtually pain-free and minimally invasive procedure that most patients are able to recover from within a day or two. To place the titanium implants, they’ll make small incisions into your gums. After your surgery, you may experience some soreness and general discomfort, but typically, it can be relieved with over-the-counter pain medication.
Healing & Osseointegration Period
After your surgery, you’ll go through a healing period that takes place over several months. During this time, your implants will fuse with your jawbone through a process called osseointegration. This is one of the most important parts of the procedure, providing your replacement teeth with an unwavering and stable platform to be secured to.
Securing Your Replacement Teeth
After your implants have successfully fused with your jawbone, your implant dentist will take impressions of your mouth to send off to their dental laboratory to craft your restoration. Once it arrives at their office, they’ll schedule your final appointment to secure your crown, bridge, or denture to your implants.
After the several month-long process, you’ll be dawning a transformed and complete set of new teeth that allow you to chew, speak, and smile with confidence. While the procedure may take longer than traditional restorative treatments, patients and professionals will both agree that the investment of your time is well worth it, because your replacement teeth can last you up to 35 years with the proper maintenance!
About the Author
Dr. Sarah Yarnell is passionate about taking care of her patients and optimizing their oral health. She takes the time to understand what each patient is going through so she can develop the best, individualized treatment plan to solve their unique concerns. She regularly takes continuing education courses so she can stay up-to-date with the latest technology in her field and offer her patients the most advanced treatments, such as dental implants. For questions or to schedule your initial consultation for dental implants, visit Woodsprings Family Dentistry’s website or call 870-932-8488.