Dental Implants:

These are artificial teeth that are used to replace missing natural teeth. They are a type of prosthetic, but they look more natural that other tooth replacement alternatives. Moreover, dental implant function is far greater than other available alternatives.

The process of getting dental implantation used to be quite lengthy, sometimes taking 3 to 6 months or even longer, depending on the complexity of the procedure. However, the dental profession has become quite technologically advanced, and you can now get immediate load or same day dental implants.

Therefore, the length of time for the procedure has been shortened considerably, so people can travel to other countries and get dental implants without lengthy stays and repeated visits to the dentist. On the other hand, many dentists still recommend for you to wait four months before you get your permanent implants inserted.

The length of the procedure is generally 15 to 20 minutes per post.

No hospital stay is required since dental implantation is done on an outpatient basis.

If you are getting dental implants overseas, you should plan for a 7 to 10 day stay. This is recommended so that your dentist can schedule a follow-up to make sure that everything is healing properly, and that no complications have developed.

Details of the Dental Implant Procedure:

The dental implant procedure begins with the administration of local anesthetic. The dentist will then start preparing the implant socket, and this may involve extracting the natural tooth, and cleaning out any debris from the bone socket, on which a bone drill is then used to further prep the area for the implant.

When the socket is prepared, the dental implant is set in place. A torque wrench is used to test the implant to make sure that it can withstand a certain amount of force.

An abutment is then attached to the implant, and an x-ray is taken to make sure that the implantation has been successful. A temporary crown is set into place so that the patient does not appear to be missing teeth while the permanent crown is being made.

After the Procedure:

Although you will be released from care right after implantation, you can expect some level of discomfort in the days that follow the procedure. You can expect certain side effects such as gum and facial swelling, pain at the site of the implant, gum and skin bruising, and minor bleeding.

Dental Implant Self-care:

• Eat only soft foods for 5 to 7 days
• Take antibiotic to prevent infection
• No physical activity for 3 days
• No alcohol, nicotine or tea for 3 days
• Clean teeth thoroughly and carefully
• Use dental floss
• Avoid hot liquids and food for a few days
• Use ice on swelling and for pain relief
• Do not push tongue on dental implant for 2 to 4 weeks

Results:

Most people who have dental implants are quite satisfied with the end results, so dental implantation is usually quite successful. However, dental implants sometimes fail to fuse with the patient’s bone.

If this occurs, the dental implant has to be removed, and the procedure can be repeated after a couple of months. You can increase your chances of having a successful dental implant procedure by practicing good oral hygiene, keeping your dental appointments, avoiding chewing on anything hard like candy, ice, and other hard foods that can crack the dental crown, and by following the after-care instructions to the letter.

Complications and risks associated with dental implants:

All dental and medical procedures have risks, and dental implantation is no exception. Therefore, the following is a list of the risks and complications which could occur:

• Reaction to anesthetic or medication
• Bleeding
• Infection of implant site
• Structural injury or damage near implant site
• Tooth injury or damage near implant site
• Nerve damage
• Tingling or numbness of the teeth, gums, lips or chin
• Sinus problems

Pay close attention to your dental implants, and contact your physician if any of the following occur:

• Bleeding continues or reoccurs
• Pain continues, reoccurs or is uncontrolled by medication
• Sutures come apart
• Swelling persists or reoccurs
• Fever is 100.4 degrees or higher
• Chills
• Nausea or vomiting are severe