Are you looking for a way to restore your smile after losing a tooth or more? At Terrell Hills Dental, we highly recommend the use of dental implants to replace missing teeth. Implants are an effective and long-term tooth-replacement solution that fits, feels, and functions just like your natural teeth. Dental implants act as artificial roots (a screw-like structure), which then supports the artificial tooth.
Implants are usually made from medical-grade titanium, which has the ability fuse to the jawbone. This creates strong and reliable support for the artificial replacement tooth and therefore makes implants feel completely comfortable and secure. The crown, on the other hand, is mostly made from zirconium or porcelain which are durable and closely resemble the teeth’s natural appearance. Patients are able to eat, speak, and chew just like they would with their natural teeth.
The Procedure
The primary concern of most patients during implant surgery is how much pain they will get to experience. Prior to the procedure, your dentist will give you a quick rundown on what to expect, and any worries or concerns you have will also be addressed at this stage.
The experience of the surgery varies for each patient, depending on a range of factors. They include:
- The number of teeth that need to be replaced
- Location of the implants within the jaw
- The quality and volume of bone mass available on the implant site
- A patient’s overall oral and general health status
Some of these factors may call for additional procedures or influence the technique used to place the implants. In normal cases, implants are completed within two phases. The first phase involves surgically placing the implant into the jaw, and this may take up to 6 months to heal. Once the implant is securely attached, an artificial tooth is molded and fitted on top of the implant to complete the procedure.
Is There Pain During the Procedure?
Dental implant surgery is considered rather invasive, and therefore sedation is used. The type of sedation used will, however, depend on your tolerance to pain and anxiety as well as the extent of the procedure. IV sedation is usually preferred because it is effective in reducing pain and anxiety and allows more work to be done within a short time. When using this type of sedation, you will be completely unconscious and unaware of what is going on. However, when conscious sedation is used, you might experience some discomfort. It is, therefore, important to discuss what sedation type you would prefer beforehand.
Is There Pain After the Procedure?
For any dental surgery we make sure you are feeling completely numb and comfortable. We never proceed with any treatment if the patient is not comfortable.
To make all our patients even more relaxed during a procedure, we agree that if they lift their left hand, the procedure stops immediately. This can be used if you need a break to rest a little bit or if you feel like you may need more anesthetic.
Is There Pain After the Procedure?
We get asked this question commonly. From our own personal experience with our patients, universally they have agreed that if taking out a tooth was at a (6 or 7 out of 10 ) as far as discomfort after the surgery, placing the implant was at a (1 to 2 out of 10) for the first 48 hours!! Then they were back to normal.
We may prescribe painkillers or recommend using an over-the-counter drug depending on the case.
Provided the procedure goes by without any complications, you should feel more like yourself in a couple of days. 99% of the time, patients get back to work the same day or the next at the most.