Dental Implants

Bone Density and Quality

Since the implant is inserted into the bone, and the jawbone will fuse to the implant, you need an adequate amount of bone density. This is the primary reason pediatric patients typically do not qualify for dental implants because their jawbone is still growing.

Gum Health

Your gum health is also critical for supporting the implant. If you have gum disease, your risk of implant failure increases. In some cases, if we treat gum disease early enough and prevent it from getting worse, we can reverse it and improve gum health.

Dental Hygiene Habits

Dental hygiene is always important for your oral and overall health. However, it becomes even more important after getting a dental implant. If you are brushing and flossing as instructed, and having your teeth cleaned and examined every 6 months, you will not have to be concerned about failure.

Overall Health

Since dental implants require surgery, it is important that you are in good overall health as well. Health conditions such as uncontrolled diabetes and lifestyle habits such as smoking and excessive alcohol consumption lead to poor health. Additionally, if you have a condition that impacts your body’s ability to heal or you are taking medications for oral cancer, you are not an ideal candidate for dental implants.

Consultation

The first step is your initial consultation. At this time, Dr. Tyagi will perform a comprehensive exam to determine if you qualify for dental implants. He will take x-rays to check the condition of your jawbone.
He will also discuss your treatment goals and oral and overall health, including any medications you are taking. You will also decide at this time how many teeth you plan to replace with dental implants. If you are replacing multiple teeth, you may want to consider an implant-supported bridge or implant dentures, as those are more budget-friendly than replacing each tooth with a single implant.
If you have questions or concerns about the procedure or if you have dental anxiety and need sedation services, make sure that you let us know at this time so that we can include it in your treatment plan.
This information will help create a personalized treatment plan to give you back your smile. At this time, impressions of the jaw will be taken, and the color of the crown will be matched to your natural teeth to ensure the implant looks natural.

Preparation Procedures

If you require additional procedures to prepare your jaw for dental implants, those will be done first. If you do not have adequate bone density, a bone graft or sinus lift may be done. This will improve the quality of the available jawbone. If you do require these procedures, you’ll need to wait until you have healed before having the implant placed.
If the dental implant is replacing a tooth that is damaged or decayed, you will need to first have the tooth extracted. Implant placement can be done at the same time as the extraction.

Implant Placement

After you have healed from any preparation procedures, the implant can be placed. In the case of an endosteal implant, this involves cutting into the gum and drilling a small hole in the jaw. If you are getting a sub periosteal implant, all that is needed is to cut an incision in the gum.
Once the implant has been placed, you will need to allow time for osseointegration to occur, which is the process of the bone healing around and fusing with the implant. This makes it a permanent part of your jaw. The timeline varies from one patient to another but takes an average of 3 to 9 months.

Abutment Placement

After osseointegration has occurred, we will cut into the gum and add the abutment. In some cases, this can be done at the same time the implant is placed. Since it sits on top of the gum line, it will be visible. Dr. Tyagi will place a healing cap on it to keep the tissue and bone from growing over it. You will need a couple of weeks to heal from this step.

Permanent Crown Placement

Finally, your permanent crown will be fabricated and placed. You may choose a fixed or removable implant. For single implants, most people choose the fixed option so they don’t have to worry about it. If you are having multiple teeth replaced and have chosen a dental bridge or dentures, you may be interested in removable prosthetics so that you can easily replace them if needed.

Aftercare

After each step in the process, Dr. Tyagi will give you specific aftercare instructions. You must follow these to increase your chances of implant success. These instructions include:
●     Get plenty of rest while you are healing. Don’t try to push yourself too hard or to do too much, as it will hinder the process.
●     Expect bleeding after the surgery. This can be controlled by biting down on gauze.
●     You will likely be prescribed antibiotics and pain medications. Take these as instructed. The antibiotics will prevent infection, while the pain medications will keep you comfortable. After a few days, the pain should subside, so you should be able to switch to OTC pain medications.