Dental Implants

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are titanium tooth root replacements that a dental surgeon places in your jaw. After the titanium post integrates with your jaw bone, the implant can hold a tooth replacement like a crown or bridge. It can even work together with a few other dental implants to secure a complete denture. 

Dental specialists place more than 5 million implants every year, and leading dentists all around the world consider them the standard of care for missing teeth.

What are the phases involved in getting a dental implant?

There are a few phases involved in getting a dental implant:

Phase one

First, a dental surgeon will extract the tooth to place an implant. If there is no tooth present, a dental surgeon creates an incision in your gum tissue and places the implant post into your jaw. Your surgeon carefully controls the depth and width while placing the implant post, which ensures optimal positioning. Often, guided surgery is used. Then, your surgeon places tiny sutures to close your gums. You'll receive anesthesia to keep you completely comfortable. 

Recovery phase

After the implant placement, you'll have a rest period averaging around 3-6 months. During this time, you undergo a process called osseointegration in which your dental implant fuses with your bone. Essentially, osseointegration allows your implant to become a part of your mouth, just like your tooth roots were before.

Phase two

After you're completely healed and osseointegration makes the implant strong and secure within your jaw, the Saugus Dental Laser Center team places your new crown, bridge, or implant-retained denture. Your new restoration fits your mouth perfectly and acts as a cosmetic and functional tooth replacement. 

The total time to get dental implants can be anywhere from around three months to a year on average. Although it can be a time-consuming process, most of that time is not spent in a dental chair but waiting for osseointegration to occur. 

How long do dental implants last?

One of the great advantages of dental implants is their longevity. With proper care, dental implants can last for the rest of your life. At every routine dental visit at Saugus Dental Laser Center, the team checks your dental implants for stability. Although you may need a crown, bridge, or denture replacement after a decade or so, you won’t generally need to replace the implant itself. 

Book your dental implant consultation at Saugus Dental Laser Center online, or you can call the office today.