If you’re missing one or more teeth, you’ve probably heard of dental implants before. You might even be considering getting them yourself to bridge the gaps in your smile. But you’ve also heard that they have to be placed via a surgical procedure. Is that going to be painful? Let’s find out by taking a closer look at the process of dental implants.
How Do Dental Implants Work?
When a tooth is missing, the primary issue is that the root, which was anchoring your tooth to your jawbone, is gone. This means that your jawbone no longer receives stimulation from your tooth root through biting and chewing. Eventually this can cause bone loss, making your face sag. You might end up looking older than you really are.
Dental implants act as a replacement tooth root. The screw-shaped titanium posts fuse with your jawbone over time, essentially becoming a part of you. They stimulate your jawbone in a way that feels just like your old tooth did.
What Does the Dental Implant Process Look Like?
Before the surgery can begin, your dentist, oral surgeon, or periodontist must go over your medical history and any medications you’re taking. If you have a heart condition or a weakened immune system, they may prescribe a round of antibiotics to prevent infection following the procedure.
In addition, they’ll evaluate the health of your jawbone. If you have enough healthy bone, they will go ahead with the surgery. If not, you will have to undergo a bone graft and then wait a few more months to receive the implant.
The process of dental implants looks something like this:
- First, your dentist will create a hole in your gumline and place the implant post inside of it. The jaw will be given time to heal, usually a few months.
- Then, the dentist will place the abutment, or the metal part that sticks out on top.
- Finally, the implant will be restored with an artificial tooth, usually a crown or bridge, that goes over the abutment.
Is Getting a Dental Implant Painful?
Short answer? No. The longer answer? Your dentist or oral surgeon will make sure you are nice and numb with local anesthetic before the procedure begins, so you won’t feel a thing. You will likely experience some soreness and swelling at the implant site for a few days after surgery, but this is normal.
If you experience anxiety at the idea of dental implant surgery, your dentist may also offer sedation. This can be through either laughing gas, a pill you take prior to your appointment, or through IV sedation, which renders you completely unconscious, so you won’t remember a thing.
Dental implants are truly the best way to replace missing teeth, as they replace not only the crown, but the underlying root as well. The process of getting dental implants comes with some minor soreness, but your surgeon will make sure the procedure itself is painless. If you’re missing one or more teeth, ask your dentist if dental implants are right for you.
About the Author
Dr. Torin Marracino is a 2005 graduate of the University of Tennessee’s dental school. He is a member of the American Dental Association, the Arkansas Dental Association, and the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. If you’re looking for dental implants in Texarkana, look no further than Dr. Marracino at Pleasant Grove Family Dentistry. He can be reached through his website or by phone at (903) 838-9700.