For those who feel self-conscious about the impression created by missing teeth, Ocoee Oral Surgery offers Cleveland TN Dental implant Surgery to create a smile truly worth sharing. Dentures may create the illusion of good teeth, but they can be uncomfortable. Slipping dentures have been the subject of more than one meme or comedy skit. Beyond appearance, it’s important to restore the ability to bite and chew food, speak clearly, and prevent drift of remaining teeth.
The dental implant surgery procedure replaces tooth roots in the jawline with metallic, screwlike posts, replacing damaged or missing teeth with artificial teeth that look and function just like real ones.
In this month’s blog, we look at the dental implant surgical procedure and what patients can expect before, during and after it is performed in our office.
“Why Are Dental Implants Done?”
The Benefits of Dental Implants vs Dentures
Dental implants offer solutions beyond what we can achieve with fixed bridgework or dentures alone. These benefits include:
- Implants won’t slip because the titanium is fused with your jawbone.
- Implants do not make noise the way dentures might.
- Implants do not cause bone damage the way other procedures might.
- The materials do not decay like your natural teeth, which can be problematic if you need existing teeth to support regular bridgework.
Dental implants sound great, but they aren’t for everyone, which is why we recommend a consultation to talk about it. It’s important for us to determine whether a patient has adequate bone to secure the implants or he/she is able to have a bone graft. Some health conditions may inhibit bone healing. Patients also need to know going in that dental implant surgery requires a commitment of several months to the process.
“How Do I Prepare for Dental Implant Surgery?”
We cover much of what patients can expect on our Chattanooga TN Dental Implants page.
Loss of teeth can result from various factors, including gum disease, tooth decay, or injury. Dental implants offers solutions beyond what we can achieve with fixed bridgework or dentures alone.
The first step is a thorough evaluation, including a comprehensive dental exam including X-rays. Your treatment plan should be tailored to your situation, factoring in how many teeth need replaced and the condition of the jawbone. Tell your oral surgeon about any medical conditions and any medications taken, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs and supplements. A doctor may prescribe antibiotics before surgery to help prevent infection, especially if a patient has a heart conditions or orthopedic implant.
You want to choose the doctor performing your dental implants carefully to make sure he or she has the same amount of training and experience as surgical specialists if they choose to provide surgical dental implant treatment.
Ocoee Oral Surgery performs most dental implants and bone grafting under intravenous sedation in our office, making the mouth numb so no pain is felt. Your individual level of stress or pain sensitivity should be discussed during the initial consultation.
“How Long does Pain Last After Dental Implant Surgery?”
A little discomfort after any operation is normal, but most people who’ve undergone dental implant surgery find this limited to minor soreness and discomfort in the area where the implant was placed, especially after the anesthesia starts to wear off hours later. Prescribed painkillers may be taken in the week after the surgery to address any problems.
Side effects from adding dental implants can include swelling of the gums and face, some bruising of the skin and gums, plus minor bleeding. This blood in saliva should stop after a couple of days. You should let your oral surgeon know if you experience bleeding beyond what you are told to expect during the consultation.
Some solutions to reduce pain after oral surgery include use of common pain relievers like Ibuprofen and acetaminophen (if recommended by our oral surgeons), applying an ice pack or bag of frozen veggies over the swollen area, cleansing the mouth with a half teaspoon of salt, use a sterile gauze pad to stop bleeding, and get lots of rest. You’ll also want to avoid hard or solid foods for a few days so you don’t accidentally chew using the area of the implant.
Your recuperation time is a great excuse to binge watch your favorite TV show while treating yourself to soft ice cream or a smoothie. With a little patience, you can have a great new smile!
Make an Appointment to Talk About Dental implant Surgery Cleveland Tennessee
Ocoee Oral Surgery offers individual dental implants for crowns and bridges, as well as non-removable fixed bridges, removable bridges/partials, and full arch rehabilitation, aka “screw-in dentures”.
Contact us on this website, by calling us at (423) 479-8544 to schedule the consultation, or you can email us as well.
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