Did you know that the success rate of dental implants in Greenville, SC, is around 95% to 98%? If you’re seriously considering this tooth replacement solution to bring back your winning smile, you probably have a lot of questions. Read on to know what to expect during a dental implant procedure.
What Happens During A Dental Implant Procedure?
X-rays
Prior to the placement of the implants, your dentist will check if your jawbone is healthy enough to support the prosthetic. For this reason, they’ll use traditional X-rays, panoramic X-rays, or a 3D CT to get a clear picture of your jawbone.
Alginate Impression
An oral impression of your soft tissue, gums, and teeth will be taken once your dentist confirms that you’d make a good candidate for dental implants. To do this, you’ll be asked to bite down on a mouth tray that’s filled with alginate or polyvinyl siloxane. In less than three minutes after being exposed to air, the soft liquid substance turns into a rubbery impression of your mouth. This will then be sent to a laboratory where the implants are produced.
Implant Placement
If you don’t have adequate bone density, a bone graft procedure may be performed to address this problem. Next, your dentist will cut through your gum to expose your jawbone before drilling a hole into it. The screw-like, biocompatible implant will then be inserted inside the hole to serve as the root of your prosthetic tooth.
The installation of the implant takes about an hour to complete. Next, a healing cap is placed for the placement of your temporary crown. This prevents the bone and soft tissue from growing over the newly-installed implant.
Crown Placement
As soon as your jawbone heals, a dental crown is placed on the abutment, the implant’s external-facing end. Between three to six months, the implant fuses with your bone through the process of osseointegration.
Are Dental Implants in Greenville, SC, Right for You?
If you think that implants may be the best solution for you, contact Pelham Links Family and Cosmetic Dentistry to schedule your consultation.