Stages of Dental Implant Surgery

    PHILADELPHIA, PA, May 01, 2013 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The process for completing the placement of dental implants takes three visits to your implant dentist. You may require more if you are having bone grafted prior to implant placement. This is unique for every patient and will be determined by your dentist during your dental implant planning phase.

Assuming you do not require bone grafting, your dental implant will be inserted during your first surgical appointment. To insert the dental implant, your dentist will need to drill a small hole into your jawbone into which the implant can be placed. Once your implant has been placed, your dentist will stitch the gums around it to help prevent infection.

Over the next several months, your dental implant will undergo a process called osseointegration. It is this process that allows your dental implant to be accepted into your jaw as a new tooth root, an essential step in ensuring the long-term success of your smile restoration.

Restoration

Once your implant has been accepted by your jawbone, you will return to your dentist for the placement of an abutment. The abutment will be affixed to the implant below the gums, but will protrude slightly above the gums as well to provide an anchor for your final restoration. Your dentist will also take an impression of your teeth during this visit for the creation of your dental crown. Your gums will need about two weeks to heal around the abutment before your final restoration is placed.

During your third and final dental implant visit, your dentist will place your custom-created dental restoration. Once your dental crown has been affixed, your implant will function in the same manner as your natural teeth.

Although the process for dental implant placement can take upwards of six months, the final restorative benefits are often worth the wait. Your implant dentist will be able to provide you with additional information and answer any of your dental implant questions during your initial consultation.

To learn more about the dental implant process, please visit the website of Ardmore, Pennsylvania implant dentist Lindsey Marshall, DMD today at www.lindseymarshall.com.

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