Restoring dental health by surgery is what dental implants do. Loss of teeth happens due to many reasons – old age, trauma, accidents, medicine, sports injury or even developmental issues. Repairing the lost tooth and providing a complete set of teeth is what dental implant surgery helps with. Losing a tooth damages the self-confidence of a person, their speech can get affected, oral health and overall dental health can be affected.

This procedure is complex as it involves dental surgery. When teeth replacement is thought about, removable dentures are often thought about. They are replaceable teeth similar to dental implants. But in implants the whole structure of the tooth is replaced. That is, a tooth has a root that helps to anchor the tooth in the jaw bone. A dental implant also mimics this – it has a proper root and also the upper visible portion of the tooth. This helps in providing good and strong support to the teeth.

Dental implants procedure

Deciding on dental implants leans on certain important aspects. Missing teeth, the position of the missing teeth, how much of growth the jaw bone has reached, oral health and hygiene and also habits like smoking. As this procedure involves placing or anchoring the replacement tooth in the jaw bone – the strength and development of the jaw bone are assessed. Dentists conduct in depth examination using tools and also through an oral examination on how suited dental implants are.

Once the procedure has been confirmed, it continues in different stages. It takes time for the procedure to be completed as healing is required after each stage for a complete recovery. First the dentist, will remove the damaged tooth if it is still in the mouth. Some would have had damaged or decayed tooth has fallen off on its own. Then this procedure is not required.

The gum is then cut open to place the root of the tooth in the jaw bone. If the jaw bone is not strong enough, then additional support is provided to the jaw bone through bone grafting. After the gum is opened, the root is placed deep in the jaw bone by drilling holes in it. This procedure is done under anaesthesia and the whole mouth will be numb during the procedure. After the root is placed, then healing needs to happen. At the same time, the jaw bone will integrate with the dental implant that is placed in it.

After this process, another surgery will be needed to place the abutment. This is the base on which the crown will be fixed. This is not a detailed procedure and will be completed soon. The gum lining is opened and the abutment is placed on the dental implant. Some dentists will place the abutment at the same time the dental implants are placed to minimise the procedures. This process will be healed in about two weeks, after which artificial tooth will be placed.

Before placing the replacement tooth, impressions will be taken of the mouth and remaining teeth to make a new tooth that is similar to the natural tooth. There are different types that one can choose from to suit the natural look and colour of the teeth. This replacement tooth can be removable or fixed. If fixed, then it is placed on the abutment that is placed. If removable then it comes with the gum lining and is placed on the abutment. But this can be removed and cleaned individually, where as if it is fixed, then cleaning will be done as with a natural tooth.

After the procedure

As a complex surgery has been done, healing will take time. It will also take time to get used to the replacement teeth. Swelling and inflammation at the site of surgery can be seen. Pain will also be felt. Medication will be given by the dentists to overcome the pain. Antibiotics will also be prescribed, to curb out any infection. Gums and jaws will also be bruised and slight bleeding might also be experienced. Inflammation and swelling will go away if ice pack is placed on the site/on the cheeks. This will help to reduce the pain and swelling. All these are natural outcomes and will go away after a few days time. If the symptoms escalate, then medical care must be sought from the dentist.

Before or after the dental implant surgery, discussions and guidance must be sought from the dentist. What are the main precautions that should be taken to ensure proper healing must be understood. Right after the surgery, food habits should be changed so that there is not much pressure given to the replaced tooth and also to the site where surgery is done. Soft food can be consumed, take care to avoid chewy or sugary food as this will stick to the teeth. If there is any medication that is needed after the surgery, that should also be checked with the dentist.

Caring for the implants

Infection and gum diseases can happen to the replacement teeth like natural teeth. This requires regular brushing and flossing like natural teeth. Infection can set in the gum lining and harm the gums and also neighbouring teeth and bring complications to the replaced teeth. Oral health must be kept at all times, food habits must also be watched. Junk food, sugary food all bring in more bacterial action and infection if teeth are not cleaned properly. Other habits that must be adhered to are – not chewing on hard food, this can cause the replaced teeth or the natural tooth to break or chip off. Besides this, habits such as smoking and using tobacco should be avoided. These habits bring down the oral health and hygiene. Proper and regular dental check-ups should be conducted right after the surgery. After healing is complete, then dental consultations should be done twice a year to rule out any dental concerns and to main oral health.