What Is Dental Implant Restoration?
Dental implant restoration is a type of restorative dental treatment dentists recommend for replacing missing or severely disfigured teeth. It’s the most effective form of teeth replacement, with prosthetics that look and feel just like your natural teeth. It involves drilling a titanium or zirconium oxide post into the jawbone and attaching an abutment with prosthetic teeth on them.
The Dental Implant Restoration Process
The process starts with you consulting the dentists about your missing teeth. The dentist, in this case Dr. Burkitt, will examine your oral health, checking for dental decay and gum disease. He may also take X-rays to determine how much jawbone you have. If everything checks out, he’ll create a treatment plan and proceed to the next step.
Once everything checks out, Dr. Burkitt will administer local anesthetic in your gums, before creating an incision to expose the jawbone. He’ll then drill the titanium or zirconium oxide post into the jawbone. Once drilled, you must wait for the bone to fuse into the titanium post by growing into tiny holes in the post’s surface area. This fusion is known as osseointegration.
Dr. Burkitt will then place the abutments onto the implants. The abutment is a connector piece that juts out slightly above the gum line and connects the prosthetic tooth to the implant, anchoring it in place. He’ll then take impressions of your teeth with a putty-like substance or a digital scanner. The impressions will be sent to a lab to manufacture your prosthetic teeth.
Once ready, Dr. Burkitt will attach the prosthetic teeth onto the abutment, ensuring they fit securely. He’ll then make all necessary adjustments to ensure they fit comfortably and you have a proper, natural bite. Afterwards, he’ll furnish you with instructions on how to take care of your teeth and promote healing.
Are There Any Risk Factors with Dental Implants?
Dental implants have a few risk factors despite being an effective treatment. For starters, there’s always the risk of the implant site being infected, causing pain and inflammation. The implant is also prone to fracturing under forceful impact.
Furthermore, poorly installed implants can lead to uncontrolled jawbone loss. This jawbone deterioration can compromise the implant’s stability, leading to further problems. Minor complications like nerve damage and soft tissue injury are possible, but these are easy to treat.
How Long Does It Take to Recover From Dental Implants?
Recovery time varies from patient to patient, but patients on average take four to six months to recover. Factors influencing the recovery period include the number of implants installed, and the state of the jawbone during surgery. Patients requiring bone grafts take longer to recover.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?
Insurance coverage for dental implants primarily depends on the reason for the implants. For example, dental implants not associated with accidents or age are likely to be considered cosmetic. It’s also worth noting that dental insurance policies don’t cover cosmetic treatments. What’s more, patients mostly have to pay a considerable amount out-of-pocket despite coverage.
