Maybe you experienced a traumatic head injury playing football and fractured a tooth—or perhaps a molar decayed to a point beyond repair. Whatever the reason, if your dentist recommends an extraction, you may be concerned about the impending gap in your grin. Don’t stress: Dental implants offer a cutting-edge solution for tooth loss, allowing for an aesthetically pleasing replacement that will blend in with your natural smile.

How Dental Implants Are Installed

Before your dentist can install a new tooth, any remaining bits of bone and root need to be removed. A local anesthetic will be administered to avoid pain. Patients who have deterioration of the jawbone may require a bone grafting procedure to make up for this loss.

Once a stable base is created and the area has fully healed, a tiny titanium post is fused into the jawbone. This acts as a sort of “root” and the fake tooth or dental crown is subsequently affixed to it. This state-of-the-art solution is very stable and durable, with most dental implants lasting 10 to 15 years or more. 

What You Can Expect Afterwards

In most cases implants aren’t handled by general dentistry professionals but by oral surgeons. While a well-trained specialist can lay the groundwork for a beautiful smile, it’s up to you to follow their aftercare instructions to ensure the perfect outcome. Take any painkillers, antibiotics, or other medications as prescribed and keep your head elevated to bring swelling down.

Your oral surgeon will likely give you a gauze pad to bite on in case of bleeding after surgery. Gently bite down on this, changing it as needed. Stick to soft foods for the first few days and chew on the other side of the mouth from where the implant was installed. Brush your teeth as usual but avoid contact with the implant directly. Your dentist will prescribe an antibiotic or saltwater rinse to use as well. 

Oral Surgery Associates Of Alaska LLC serves the Anchorage community with top-quality oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures. Dr. William F. Bergeron, Jr. and Dr. Ray Holloway are both board-certified dental surgeons dedicated to providing their patients with the most advanced diagnostic and treatment technologies. Learn more about their credentials online. For an appointment to discuss dental implants, call (907) 561-1430.