Dental implants are artificial roots that support a dental prosthesis. The implant is a titanium bolt that is surgically placed in the upper or lower jaw. Patients who have lost a tooth will turn to implants, as these will replace the natural root, later supporting a dental crown. The advantage of Dental Implants in Louisville, KY, relative to traditional fixed prosthesis, is that the surgery takes very little time and there is usually very little pain.
In this case, the process would last between 45 minutes and an hour. Once the implant is placed, there are two options when leaving the protected implant in the socket. One is to place a healing rivet and the other option is to completely close the gums with stitches. The advantage of the implant is for the surgery to be completed the right way the first time and not have to perform a second surgery to expose the implant, if needed.
The decision to leave the implant healing rivet in depends on each case. In cases of complex surgeries (those where little bone is present), there may be a need for bone regeneration. The implant surgeon will usually bury the implant under the gum and suture it closed. In other cases in which the gums are closed, smokers are advised to stop smoking as this reduces the risk of rejection, especially concerning cases of periodontal disease.
For those patients who have lost more than one tooth, dentists can place bridges to help hold two or more implants in place. There can be two implants that will support the three pieces that will be placed or you could have a five-piece bridge that holds three implants. This case is identical to that of the Dental Implants in Louisville, KY, with the exception of the time of the surgery. Procedures can take between 1.5 and 2 hours, depending on the complexity of the case.
There are other options like hybrid dentures and over-dentures, but those are options that you should discuss with your local dentist. Before finalizing any decisions, you need to sit down and talk with a dental professional to see what options are best for you and your needs, not your wants. For more information on dental implants and other cosmetic dentistry procedures, contact Springhurst Family and Cosmetic Dentistry today.
