Dental implants are one of the most celebrated methods of tooth replacement. Their durability, strength, and realistic look have made them incredibly popular among both dentists and patients.
However, unlike other methods of tooth replacement, dental implants require surgery to be placed in the jaw. This means that there are some preliminary procedures that may be necessary before you’re ready to get dental implants. If you’re curious, here are a few examples.
Tooth Extraction
Obviously, the main reason that a dentist would recommend getting a dental implant is because you’re missing a tooth. However, if you have a tooth that is suffering from infection and seems on the verge of failure, your dentist may recommend removing it proactively before the infection spreads.
In such cases, it’s common for a dentist to recommend first removing the tooth via an extraction, waiting for the wound to heal, then placing a dental implant in its place.
Bone Graft
If, on the other hand, you’ve been missing your teeth for a while, it’s common to have to get a bone graft before getting a dental implant. This is because the jaw works just like a lot of the other parts of the body—the less it’s used, the fewer nutrients it gets. As a result, jawbones not being used to hold a tooth will tend to shrink over time.
If it seems that your jaw won’t be able to support a dental implant, your dentist may recommend surgically grafting bone onto the jaw, either by taking it from elsewhere in the body or using a synthetic bone-like substance. Once the graft heals, you’ll be able to place the dental implant.
Sinus Lift
Dental implants in the upper jaw present a unique challenge. The sinuses run very close to the mouth, meaning that if you’ve had any amount of jaw shrinkage you run the risk of having the dental implant penetrate into the sinus cavity.
A sinus lift does two things: first, the dentist surgically moves the sinus so that it’s out of the way. Then they perform a bone graft to bolster the strength of the jaw, ensuring that there are no complications during the procedure.
About Our Practice
At My Frederick Dentist, we’re proud to say that we put a premium on your time. That means that you won’t have to spend hours sitting in our office waiting to be seen by your dentist—you’ll be able to get the care that you need on your schedule. We also have a dedicated dental team that will be attentive to everything you could need to get your smile to perfection.
If you have any questions about dental implants, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (301) 698-9552.