Did you know that up to 18% of the American adult population has at least one missing tooth because of tooth decay or periodontitis? Old age is no longer the leading reason for tooth loss, as was the case decades ago. Besides gum disease and tooth decay, sports injuries and accidents are also major causes of tooth loss.
But thanks to dental implants near you, our dentist in Venice, FL, Dr. C. Romesh Weerasooriya, can replace any number of missing teeth. Dental implants have altered countless smiles throughout the decades and have been arguably the gold standard of tooth replacement.
But you must be curious to know more about tooth implants, including the length of the procedure and what to expect at certain stages. Read along, and you will get to know a thing or two.
We need to get out of the way that a tooth implant is technically not a tooth replacement but more of a root replacement. The implant is usually crafted from titanium and looks like a screw, and is nearly the same size as a tooth root. Therefore, making them a perfect root replacement.
Since they are replacing your tooth roots, our dentist in 34285 will surgically insert them into your jawbone. This is the most critical part of the procedure because the whole idea is to replace the tooth root and then use a tooth replacement to cover the implant.
The implant should permanently bond with your jawbone, which nearly takes three to six months to complete. A crown or bridge will be placed when the process is over, and you will have a new tooth.
The implants are set apart from every other tooth-replacement option there is since they seek to replace the entire tooth, a trait lacking in the other options.
Depending on your oral health and the state of your jawbone, it might take four to six months, even up to a year or longer, before you get your new set of pearly whites. The initial consultation usually takes a day, and our dentist in Venice, FL, will have all the necessary information for the treatment.
However, pre-treatment surgeries might take up most of your time. Sometimes, you might not tick all the boxes, so our dentist may recommend additional procedures. The procedures could be bone grafting, tooth extraction, gum grafting, or bone smoothing. Therefore, you might need to wait for your mouth to heal, taking about three to 12 months.
If you are lucky, you will not need the additional procedures. If this is the case, then the implant can be placed one or two weeks after the initial consultation. Our dentist will use an hour or two to place the implant. The area will be cleaned and shut to promote healing.
Healing usually takes about three to six months, or even longer; this depends on your oral and overall health.
Dental implants come with tons of benefits that can alter your smile. Missing teeth cause several unwanted changes that affect your oral health and dental aesthetics. But with dental implants, you can enjoy the following:
So, are you ready for tooth implants? You can take a look at some of the questions that you can ask yourself before your procedure:
If you can confidently answer the above questions, you can contact us at our dentist’s office in Venice, FL, Tarpon Shore Dental, to schedule an appointment.