Dental Implants of St. Louis – Understanding This Restorative Procedure

When a tooth or teeth are missing, today you have one more treatment option to choose from. The dental implant is widely used as a permanent solution in such instances. Compared to dentures and the dental bridge, an implant is more like the natural tooth structure needed for long-lasting function. In order to confidently decide whether dental implants are the most suitable treatment option, you need to know what’s involved in the process.

Before advising dental implants of St. Louis, we complete a thorough assessment to determine if a patient makes a good candidate for the treatment. In this consultation, your dentist will discuss your lifestyle habits and medical conditions. It is important to disclose all factors to your dentist, as conditions like diabetes and smoking have a direct impact on the success of a dental implant. During your initial assessment, your dentist will also evaluate the density of your jaw bone and the state of gum tissue. Both need to be healthy to properly support an implant.

The implant is a titanium screw. This is inserted into the jawbone, and surrounding gum tissue is secured over it. This is the first step of the implant procedure. After the insertion of the screw, the patient may experience slight swelling and pain. This is typically helped with prescription pain medication.

The next phase of this treatment is healing. Following insertion, the implant requires several months to heal. During this time, existing jawbone will begin to grow around the titanium screw; a process called osseointegration. A patient may be fitted with provisional restorations to wear during this period of healing. In some cases, a dentist may place the abutment at the same time the implant is first inserted. An abutment is the post which holds the tooth restoration. If the abutment is not placed at the same time as the implant, a second procedure will be performed after the implant has healed within healthy jaw bone. Finally, a permanent crown is placed on the abutment and normal chewing function is restored.