When it comes to tooth loss, many people are most concerned with the impact it would have on the appearance of their smile. However, tooth loss is more than a cosmetic issue. Losing one or more teeth has wide-ranging effects on your overall oral health; and if you wait too long to replace missing teeth, this can only make these problems worse. In this article, we will discuss – is dental implant painful or not replacing the missing tooth more harmful.
DENTAL IMPLANT PROCEDURE
Dental implant procedures require multiple steps for around 3 to 9 months. You may need the help of one or more dental specialists, including a periodontist and oral surgeon before treatment is complete. Nonetheless, how painful is dental implant surgery, can be clarified by detailed discussion at the time of treatment planning with the consultant.
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Evaluation
The first step will be getting your teeth, gums, and jawbone evaluated. An important part of this initial assessment is determining whether you have enough healthy jawbone to maintain the implant. If your jawbone is too thin or soft, a bone graft or other procedure may be suggested before beginning the dental implant process. Your gums must also be free of periodontal disease.
Dental implants are done to replace one or more teeth. The number of teeth you wish to replace will determine the type and scope of the procedure you can expect.
Dental implant surgery is usually an outpatient procedure. It may be done under local anaesthesia, IV sedation, or general anaesthesia. Your specialist will let you know ahead of time which type of anaesthesia you will need.
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Placing the implant
If you have an endosteal implant:
An oral surgeon will cut the gum, exposing the jawbone underneath.
Holes will be drilled deep into the bone, where the implant post will be inserted.
If you choose, a temporary, removable denture can be placed over the hole, for aesthetic purposes, until the permanent tooth can be attached to the implant.
If you have a subperiosteal implant, your jawbone won’t be drilled, and the implant post will be placed on or above the bone.
No matter which type of implant you receive, you can expect to feel some discomfort and swelling afterwards. This may last for several days. Most people find that they can resume their daily activities the day after a dental implant has been placed.
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Osseointegration
After the dental implant is placed, it could take somewhere between 2 to 6 months before enough new bone growth occurs around the screw. This process is known as osseointegration, meaning “combining with the bone.”
During osseointegration, the natural jaw bone will strengthen and grow around the dental implant. This keeps it firmly in place, so it can function as the artificial tooth’s root.
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Abutment placement
A metal extender called an abutment is typically added to the implant. This may be done during the initial procedure or a second minor procedure under a local anaesthetic.
Abutments are used to connect the replacement tooth to the implant. If an abutment is added during a second procedure, the surgeon may need to make an incision if gum tissue has grown over the implant. This is because a healing cap is placed over the implant after the implant is placed. While this is used to protect the implant, it also typically prevents tissue from growing over it.
During the second procedure, the healing cap will be removed, and the abutment will be screwed onto the dental implant. The gum tissue will then contour around the abutment. The gums will take several weeks to heal after the abutment placement.
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Placing the tooth
Once healing is complete, your dentist will take an impression of your teeth so that your permanent replacement tooth or teeth can be made to fit. These can be fixed or removable.
If you opt for a removable tooth, it will be mounted onto a metal frame and attached to the abutment. This type of tooth can be removed at home for daily cleaning.
If you opt for a fixed tooth, it will be permanently cemented or screwed onto the abutment.
After the process is complete, let your dentist know if you experience ongoing discomfort, severe pain, bleeding, or swelling. Your new teeth will look and feel natural. They must be cared for with daily brushing and flossing. You can treat them the same way you treat your natural teeth.
HOW PAINFUL IS DENTAL IMPLANT SURGERY
Many people are anxious about getting a dental implant. Naturally, there is some fear, and the biggest question is about how painful the dental implant procedure is. While the fear of pain is reasonable, today’s technologies and procedures have come a long way with dental implants.
Like other dental surgery procedures, there can be pain and discomfort with a dental implant. However, answering the question about how painful the dental implant procedure is, that’s something personal – every patient is different, and every patient has different pain tolerance.
Today, with modern techniques and advanced pain management, your dentist can provide you with practically pain-free treatment. There are various types of sedation (including moderate sedation) that can moderate both pain and anxiety. For many, non-narcotic medication suffixes.
PAIN AFTER DENTAL IMPLANT
Yes. Some minor pain and discomfort are normal after treatment.
Whether you have dental implant surgery in one stage or multiple stages, It’s normal to feel some pain and discomfort after surgery when the numbing agents and DENTAL SEDATION wear off. You may experience some of the typical discomforts associated with any type of dental surgery, such as:
Swelling of your gums and face
Bruising of your skin and gums
Pain at the implant site
Minor bleeding
You may need pain medications or antibiotics after dental implant surgery. If swelling, discomfort, or any other problem gets worse in the days after surgery, contact your oral surgeon. After each stage of surgery, you may need to eat soft foods while the surgical site heals. Typically, your surgeon will use stitches that dissolve on their own. If your stitches aren’t self-dissolving, your doctor removes them.
Also Read: | Top 11 Benefits of dental implants: You may not have known |
IS DENTAL IMPLANT SAFE
The answer is “yes.” This procedure has been used successfully in dentistry for more than 30 years and is regarded to be extremely safe.
Dental implants have proven to be not just safe but the best ways to replace missing teeth when all other criteria have been met. As mentioned earlier, dental implants have two parts: the screw and the cap (crown).
The implant screw is made up of titanium which is a biocompatible element and is routinely used in joint replacement surgeries, to place screws in bone surgeries in other parts of the body, etc. The jaw bone grows very well around a well-placed implant and gives the implant screw strength to support the crown and function like a real tooth.
The cap of the implant is made up of biocompatible ceramic, just like those used to make routine crowns and bridges.
For the majority of patients who are in good health, there is almost no risk of any major complications or problems with the dental implant procedure. However, you must be in good dental health before you get dental implants. If you have serious periodontal (gum) disease, for example, you will not qualify for implants until you can get the proper treatment to manage and halt the progression of your gum disease.
Just how safe and effective are dental implants? One study found that between 90-95% of implants were still in perfect condition 10 years after placement, and other studies suggest that the success rate is between 95 and 98% for up to 40-50 years.
HOW TO REDUCE PAIN AND DISCOMFORT AFTER DENTAL IMPLANTS?
There are several ways that patients can reduce discomfort after dental implant surgery. We recommend that you:
– Avoid strenuous exercise for at least 48 hours after surgery. When the heart rate is elevated, it can result in increased bleeding, swelling, and pain. For this reason, we recommend waiting a couple of days to work out or perform any heavy lifting.
– Steer clear of aspirin and other blood-thinning medications. Certain over-the-counter medications and herbal supplements may cause more bleeding. Ask your doctor which pain medications are safe after dental implant surgery.
– Apply ice packs to reduce swelling. During the first day, apply a cold compress to the face in the area where the implant was placed. Leave it on for 20 minutes, then remove it for 20 minutes. This will help reduce inflammation and discomfort.
– Take all medications exactly as directed. Your doctor will likely prescribe you medications. These may include antibiotics and pain tablets. He or she may also recommend that you take over-the-counter medications to reduce inflammation and discomfort. To stay ahead of the pain, be sure to take all medications as instructed by your dentist.
– Avoid hard, crunchy, and tough foods. For the first few days after dental implant surgery, it is a good idea to avoid foods such as popcorn, nuts, and hard bread.
– Keep the area clean. Though you will not be able to brush the surgical site for a few days, it is still important to keep the area clean. Often, your doctor will recommend an antibacterial mouthwash to keep harmful microbes away.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO HEAL AFTER AN IMPLANT
This surgery involves multiple steps. It needs more than one healing stage; thus the time to heal will depend on the number of teeth to replace, the patient’s health, and many other factors. Below is a list of the steps that could occur starting from procedure until recovery. Once these steps are complete, you’ll have a new set of healthy, permanent smiles.
If it needs bone grafting, the patient would have to wait for four to six months before proceeding to the next step. Grafting is needed only if the patient does not have enough healthy bone to support the implant.
If grafting is not needed, but extracting the teeth is, there is also a grace period required for the gums to heal completely. Nowadays, it is possible to place the implant immediately after extraction therefore patients won’t have to wait long. Before the gum tissue is stitched, the cap is attached to the dental implant. The process can take weeks to heal, depending on the patient’s health.
Another surgery will be performed after four to six months have passed. By then the tooth implant will have already fused with the implant metal. The cap will be left exposed and the gum around it will be sutured. The gum will heal around the cap and it adapts to the shape of the cap.
Once the gum has healed completely and the osseointegration process is complete, they can now remove the cap and attach an abutment where the denture or artificial tooth is placed.
To experience a painless dental implant procedure, choose Smile Oracles. It is the best dental clinic in South Delhi.