Implant Dentist Las Vegas are a durable alternative to dentures, providing a natural-looking and feeling tooth replacement. Patients who receive implants are expected to maintain good oral hygiene and visit their dentist regularly. Those who have uncontrolled chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, long-term steroid use, and previous radiation therapy should not get implants.
The implant process starts with an initial consultation with your dentist to discuss all the options for replacing missing teeth. During this visit, they will thoroughly examine your mouth and take X-rays to ensure that you have enough space in the jaw bone for an implant. If you don’t, they may suggest other tooth replacement options that can be combined with dental implants to provide an effective solution.
If the dentist determines that you are a good candidate for dental implant surgery, they will schedule your surgery. It is important to follow all pre-surgery instructions provided by your doctor. This will help your body heal and recover faster following the procedure. This includes avoiding certain foods and medications that can cause complications.
Prior to the actual implantation surgery, you will receive local anesthesia to numb the area where your implant will be placed. The dentist will then make small incisions in your gum tissue to expose the bone. Once the area is numb, the implant will be placed in the jaw bone and attached to a metal spacer called an abutment. The abutment connects the implant to the crown, which will replace the missing tooth.
When an implant is placed, it typically requires four to six months for the bone to grow around the implant and anchor it in place. During this time, it is important to brush and floss regularly to avoid bacteria buildup that can lead to infection. You should also avoid chewing hard foods or smoking as these can damage the implant and cause pain.
Once the implant has healed, your dental professional will remove the abutment and attach the crown to complete the procedure. If you were prescribed antibiotics prior to the surgery, it is important to finish the entire course of treatment to prevent infection. Lastly, it is important to arrange for transportation home after the surgery as you will likely be given sedatives that will make driving unsafe. If possible, try to book a day off work after the procedure to give you adequate time to recover.
A dental implant is a strong root replacement for missing or damaged teeth. Made of titanium, it fuses with the jawbone to create an artificial tooth that won’t slip or cause bone damage like dentures or dental bridges can. It’s the ideal way to replace one or more missing teeth without damaging neighboring teeth or compromising your smile’s appearance.
Unlike other options for replacing teeth, dental implants look and feel just like your natural teeth. You can eat, drink and smile with confidence, and dental implants are durable enough to last a lifetime. In addition, dental implants can help prevent bone loss by stimulating the jawbone to preserve it.
The first step in the process of establishing your candidacy for dental implants involves a comprehensive exam of your teeth, gums and jawbone. Your dentist will evaluate whether your gum tissue is healthy and your jawbone thick and sturdy enough to support an implant, and he’ll take X-rays or 3D images of your mouth to identify any potential issues.
Once he’s determined you’re a good candidate, your dentist will schedule the surgery to place your dental implant. During the procedure, your dentist will numb the area with local anesthesia to keep you comfortable. Then, he’ll make an opening in the jawbone to insert the stud or post into the tooth socket, and he’ll screw it into place. He may also add a healing cap to keep tissue and bone from growing over the implant.
Your dentist will give you instructions for caring for your dental implant and nearby teeth to promote the long-term health of your implants, including regular oral hygiene and cleaning. A clean and healthy environment around your implant will help prevent infections that can lead to the deterioration of your bone, such as peri-implantitis, which is very difficult to treat. The best way to avoid peri-implantitis is to practice a consistent and thorough at-home oral hygiene routine, including brushing twice a day, flossing daily and using an antibacterial mouthwash. You should also visit your implant dentist regularly for checkups.
Implant dentistry can replace one or more missing teeth, and it can offer a welcome alternative to dentures and bridgework tooth replacements that can damage healthy teeth. It also can make eating more comfortable and improve overall oral health.
In order to place an implant, the dentist first must ensure that the patient is a good candidate for this treatment. To do this, the doctor performs a physical exam and obtains X-rays and a 3D cone beam CT to see how much bone is available in the area of the missing teeth. If the jawbone is too weak to support an implant, a bone graft may be performed to add bone to the area. Once this has healed (which can take four to six months), the implant site can be ready for an artificial tooth.
After the implant has been placed, the dentist puts a healing cap on it to protect the site as the bone heals. During this time, it is important to avoid putting pressure on the implant and not smoking, as both of these activities can slow or prevent healing. During the healing period, patients can eat soft foods and use an over-the-counter pain reliever as needed.
Once the implant has healed sufficiently, a connector known as an abutment is added to the implant and a crown is fabricated to match the patient’s existing teeth, completing the dental implant. The patient’s bite will be examined and, if necessary, harder calcified deposits that can cause biting stress on the implant will be removed with special tools.
While a general dentist can place implants, an oral surgeon has more experience with this type of surgery. This can reduce the risk of complications, such as an infection in the gums or failure of the implant to fuse to the bone.
After the procedure, the dental professional gives the patient instructions on how to care for the implant and the artificial teeth. This includes brushing and flossing and having regular cleanings at the office. The dentist will schedule follow-up visits to monitor the implant, teeth and gums. The patient should call the dentist immediately if there are any signs of an infection or pain, as these symptoms could indicate serious problems.
Dental implants are a wonderful cosmetic option for patients with missing teeth, but they do require special care to ensure that they heal properly. For optimum implant maintenance, patients should commit to daily oral hygiene routines and regular visits to their dentist for cleaning and checkups.
During these appointments, the dentist should also perform a thorough occlusion evaluation to detect movement of the prosthesis and/or the underlying bone. When this occurs, the implants may begin to fail or cause complications for the patient.
The implant site will be cleaned by the dentist using a small brush (manual or electric) and an antimicrobial rinse to eliminate bacteria that can cause inflammation and infection. Flossing is important, as well, to remove plaque between the natural teeth and restorations. Patients should also avoid chewing hard foods on the dental implant site, as this could compromise its stability and durability over time.
A diet high in sugar and carbohydrates can also lead to problems, as these foods can increase inflammation and promote the growth of harmful bacteria that can attack and destroy the surrounding tissue. Additionally, smoking is a major concern, as it slows the healing process and restricts blood flow to the gums.
It is important for patients to follow the recovery guidelines provided by their surgeon in order to get the most out of their implant experience. They should also make sure to avoid any activities that can disturb the surgical site, like rinsing with water, drinking from a straw, or biting on pencils.
As an added measure of protection, patients should always wear a mouthguard while sleeping to prevent grinding of the teeth (bruxism). It is also recommended that patients schedule a maintenance appointment every 3 – 6 months. This allows for the dentist to examine and clean the teeth and their supporting structures, and ensure that the underlying bone is healthy. During this visit, the dentist will also take any necessary x-rays to monitor the health of the bone and tissue around the implant. The dentist will determine the frequency of these appointments based on each individual patient’s unique needs.