Dental implants have three parts:
- The post replaces your tooth’s root
- The abutment connects the post to your new replacement tooth (or teeth)
- The crown is custom designed by your dentist to look just like your natural teeth and completes the dental implants
The post is made of medical-grade titanium, a material that fuses with your jaw bone. This strong bond between the posts and the bone creates a secure place for a single tooth crown, a bridge, or in some cases, even a full fixed denture.
What are the benefits of dental implants?
They allow patients to eat their favorite foods and smile with confidence as if they had never lost any teeth. Many patients find that they forget which teeth are real and which are not after years of use. Below are a few of the benefits you can expect to receive:
- A permanent tooth loss solution, unlike bridges and dentures, which must be replaced after several years of use
- The ability to eat what you like without worrying about your dental implants
- A beautiful new smile
- Prevention of bone loss
- No removable parts
When teeth are missing for an extended length of time, bone loss can occur, making it difficult to place replacement teeth. Our practice offers bone grafting procedures to restore your lost bone and prepare you for placement. Your implants will stimulate the bone beneath your gums, just like the roots of your natural teeth do, preventing further bone loss.
The Dental Implant Procedure Process
Below is the general treatment process. Each patient is unique, and your exact treatment plan will depend on the number of teeth being replaced, the amount of bone beneath the gums, and the need for more procedures, such as tooth extractions. During your first consultation, we will discuss your restoration goals and lay out a plan to restore your oral health and smile.
The whole process will involve two or three visits to the office over a few weeks or months. Your oral surgeon and your dentist will work as a team and complete the final restoration.
Consultation
First, you will receive a consultation, where your surgeon will review your condition, take any necessary imaging, and form a custom treatment plan. If you have 3D scans taken, the images may be used to create custom surgical guides for your procedure. During your consultation and exam, you will have a chance to discuss your procedure and anesthesia options. Dr. Huang will be happy to answer any questions you have before your surgery appointment.
Surgery
Your initial surgery procedure will involve the placement of the posts, which replace the roots of your natural teeth. We perform the majority of implant surgeries under IV sedation. You will sleep comfortably during the procedure. After giving your anesthetic, your surgeon will lift the gums and make a hole for your posts. If you need to have a tooth removed, the posts may be placed right in the empty tooth socket. After placement, we will suture the surgical sites, and you will rest and recover.
Recovery
Your dental implants will need time for the bone to heal before undergoing the pressure of chewing hard foods. This healing period lasts roughly three to four months in most cases. This may seem like a long time, but the majority of patients find that they are well worth the wait. While a soft food diet may be necessary for some time, most patients are back to their regular routines after a couple of weeks. Your dentist may make a crown for you to wear during the healing period so that you don’t have to go without teeth.
Abutment and Crown Placement
Once your implant sites are secure, your oral surgeon can place the abutments, which will connect your new crowns to your posts. Your dentist will make sure your custom crowns look and feel just like natural teeth, and he or she will attach your crowns to your new abutments. Then, your new smile will be complete!
Dental Implants at Henderson Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Center
Dr. Steve Huang is an expert at planning treatments for dental implants. Our practice offers patients high-quality oral surgery treatments at competitive costs for the greater Las Vegas, Nevada, region. He can also extract problem teeth and replace them using dental implants. If you live in the Las Vegas, NV, area and are looking for a healthy, attractive, and permanent option to replace your missing or failing teeth, contact our office in Henderson, NV, today to find out if you are a candidate.
