Monday 10 June 2013

If Getting Dental Implants Los Angeles Patients Can Expect The Following

By Lucille Lamb


People who have lost an individual tooth or several teeth in different places may be good candidates for dental implants. These consist of a synthetic tooth which attaches onto a titanium steel post that is surgically inserted into the jaw bone. To find out if they are eligible for dental implants Los Angeles patients can visit a dentist.

The implant unit is comprised of three parts, which act as a substitute for the tooth and its root system. The titanium steel post must be surgically embedded in the jaw, which is followed by the addition of an abutment or collar onto it, and lastly a crown made of composite or porcelain is cemented or screwed on.

In order for this procedure to be effective, there must be sufficient bone in the jaw and it needs to be strong enough to hold the implant in place. To determine if this is the case, the dentist will examine the patient's mouth, make some impressions, and take some x-rays and possibly a CT scan. If there is not enough bone, the dentist will discuss options to remedy this such as augmentation or grafting.

The length of time it takes to fully complete this process varies depending on where the implant is placed, and whether a one-stage or two-stage approach is used. Traditionally, the steel post is inserted in one operation and the abutment, which holds the crown in a second operation. However, some dentists are now using a procedure in which everything is done at the same time.

If the dentist is satisfied that there is enough bone, the first surgery to install the titanium post will be arranged. This procedure is usually done by an oral surgeon or a periodontist as it involves drilling into the jaw. After 4-7 months time, the next stage can be completed.

The purpose of waiting after the first surgery, is to let the bone fuse together with the implant, as it is intended to function as an artificial tooth root and must be strong. The second surgery involves affixing a tiny round, metal collar or "abutment" onto the post which is meant to separate the gum tissue from the implant. This is kept in place for 10 to 14 days and then the crown replaces it.

In some cases, the abutment is left in place and a temporary crown is fastened to it, or there may be no abutment used at all and the crown will be secured onto the implant itself. The temporary crown prepares the implant for the permanent one, which is crafted from the impressions while the patient wears it. The gums also heal around the temporary crown until the permanent one is screwed or cemented into place in about 4-6 weeks.

Taking care of implants is no different than caring for natural teeth, they simply require brushing and flossing. The patient will need to see the dentist every 3 months to make sure the implant has taken properly, and eventually only every six months. Most often after getting dental implants Los Angeles patients will feel more confident about their appearance and can enjoy the results for as much as 25 years.




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1 Comments:

At 30 July 2017 at 17:44 , Blogger Unknown said...

I have heard a lot about dental implants recently, are they they new version of veneers?

 

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