Dental Implants
Whether you lost a tooth due to a sudden trauma or a slow decay, dental implants can be the answer to a full set of teeth again. If you’re interested in this service, it helps to understand not just what you’re signing up for, but why it matters so much to your long-term oral health. When you know why dental implants are the preferred way to fill a gap for nearly every dentist in Ocean Springs, MS, you can sign up for the procedure in full confidence.
What Is a Dental Implant?
A dental implant refers to a deeply rooted artificial tooth. Instead of placing the tooth above the gumline, like a bridge or a partial denture might do, a dental implant goes below the gumline to infuse a metal post to your jawbone. This anchor makes the tooth as strong as an artificial tooth can be — nearly as strong as the healthy original. So if you happen to take a fall or bite down on food that’s unusually hard, you don’t necessarily have to worry about jarring the tooth out of place.
Can Everyone Get a Dental Implant?
Unfortunately, not everyone is eligible for dental implants in Ocean Springs, MS. Because the procedure requires a strong jawbone and gums, not everyone will be able to support the metal post. If you aren’t eligible for dental implants, it’s important not to give up. While bridges and partial dentures may not be as strong as an implant, it’s far better to close the gap than it is to leave it as-is. The longer you have a missing space, the easier it is for bacteria to accumulate and for surrounding teeth to slip in and take its place.
What Should I Know About the Procedure?
The procedure typically requires multiple appointments and several major stages:
- Consults: The initial consultations evaluate your general oral health, with the dentist examining your gums, jaw, and remaining teeth. If you require an extraction, either to remove a diseased tooth or make room for the implant, the dentist will take care of this before inserting the metal post.
- Implant: The dentist will make a small cut in the gums to place the metal post in the jaw. You’ll wear a temporary crown over the gap to fill up your smile until you’re ready for the final crown.
- Healing: The next step is to wait for the post to fuse and your jaw to heal. Typically, this takes around 9 weeks, though some people heal as quickly as 6 weeks and some will need closer to six months. During this time, the dentist will keep an eye on your progress so you’re not waiting any longer than you have to.
- Final crown: The last step for the dentist is to place a custom-fit crown that matches the shape and color of your surrounding teeth.
If you’re wondering if the implant procedure is risky, you should know that complications are rare. While it’s possible for patients to reject the metal post or to develop infection or nerve damage after the service, a thorough evaluation can eliminate many of these risks. These risks are part of why choosing an experienced staff to perform the implant is so critical.
Dentists in Ocean Springs
The best team in Ocean Springs can walk you through more than just the standard advice you’ll find online. At Timmons Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry, we can develop a custom plan that works for you. Whether you need one implant or several, we’re here to help you smoothly work your way through each stage.
