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If you’ve lost one or more teeth, dental implants will restore your smile in the most effective way possible. Your ability to eat, drink, and talk without difficulty will also be improved without the need for removable dentures or bridges. To help you know what to expect, here’s a closer look at each step of the process. 

What the Process of Getting a Dental Implant Entails

Pre-Operative Care to Prevent Complications

To prevent issues during and after dental implant surgery, it’s important to follow the dentist’s instructions to prepare for the procedure. Rinsing with anti-bacterial mouthwash, for example, will remove harmful microorganisms so they don’t end up in the open wound and cause infection. To also prevent infection, you might be prescribed a regimen of antibiotics to take in the days leading up to the surgery. If you will undergo IV-induced sedation, you shouldn’t eat after midnight the night before the procedure.    ​​

Surgery for Implant Placement

dental implantsThe dental implant procedure is performed in two phases, with the process taking a total of three to nine months to complete. During the first stage, you’ll undergo surgery performed by the dentist or an oral surgeon. Before surgery, you’ll be given an anesthetic to numb the mouth or be placed under sedation. This is to eliminate pain and discomfort as an incision is placed in the implant site. After the incision exposes the bone, a small drill is used to make a hole in the jawbone to screw in the implant. After the implant is placed, the incision is closed with sutures. It will take a few months for the screw to bond with the bone. 

Impressions Taken for the Crown

After the implant has bonded, you’ll visit the dentist’s office to begin the phase of making a crown. An incision is made to expose the implant. A metal post is then attached to the implant, which will hold the crown. Impressions are taken to make sure the new, permanent tooth will be the right fit. Impressions of the rest of your teeth will also be taken to ensure the new tooth aligns properly. Gums typically need two weeks to heal before a crown is placed. 

 

If you need to replace missing teeth, contact the dentists at Anderson Dental Group. Serving residents throughout North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad region and the Charlotte metro area, the team provides restoration dentistry services to correct existing problems as well as general dental exams to catch and treat minor issues before patients’ health is compromised. For a free consultation to discuss dental implant surgery and ask questions, call (704) 663-3300 to reach the Mooresville or Salisbury offices, (704) 636-3611. Visit the practice online to learn more about the compassionate team. 

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