If you a missing one or more teeth, you could be facing long-term dental health issues if you do not choose to have them replaced. Dentists offer various options, but dental implants are best for replicating the condition of having a natural tooth. If you seek a dentist who provides dental implants in the Salt Lake City, UT area, consider Dr. David Cannon and the Cannon Dental team.
What is a Dental Implant?
When you have lost one or more teeth, a dental implant can effectively replace the tooth in the jaw. That is necessary to avoid some long-term health complications caused by losing the stimulation in the jawbone created by your tooth’s roots. If you have lost a tooth due to infection, decay, gum disease, or injury, you will want to schedule a consultation with your dentist to discuss if a dental implant is a good choice for you. Your dentist will examine your jaw to ensure that there is enough space and bone material for the proper implantation. That is necessary because if you lost your tooth far enough in the past, you might be suffering from bone loss and require bone grafting before you can receive an implant. If a dental implant is not suitable for you, do not worry. There are other options available, including bridges and dentures.
What is a Dental Implant Procedure?
Receiving dental implants is considered outpatient surgery and consists of multiple visits. You don’t have to stay overnight in a medical facility and will be out shortly after the procedure completes. First, you will need to visit your dentist for a consultation. Once scheduled, you will return for the procedure during which a (in most cases) titanium implant is surgically inserted into your jawbone at the point where the missing tooth once was. Once the implant is inserted, you will have to wait for your jaw to completely fuse (simulating the root of a tooth) with the implant before your artificial tooth is affixed via an abutment.
Can Anybody Who Is Missing a Tooth Get an Implant?
Most individuals who are missing single or multiple teeth are good candidates for a dental implant. There are a few exceptions. Children whose jaws are still growing do not make good candidates. The patient’s jaw must be fully developed and no longer growing for them to receive an implant.
Individuals who suffer from certain diseases, including diabetes or leukemia, may not receive a dental implant because these diseases can negatively impact the healing required post-operation.
How Should You Prepare for the Procedure?
Once you have received your consultation, taken x-rays, and have your appointment for your dental implant scheduled, you will want to take just a few easy steps to prepare. First, make sure and have a thorough conversation with your dentist about the anesthesia used during the procedure, and make sure to let them know if you have any allergies or have had an adverse response to anesthesia of any kind in the past.
You will want to establish the location where the procedure will be held and ask about fasting. When anesthesia is involved, you may need to abstain from eating or drinking anywhere from a few hours before surgery to the night before to make sure your stomach is empty.
Your dentist may ask that you take a prescribed antibiotic for a time before the procedure to help prevent any early implant failures. You may need to rinse with a special anti-bacterial mouthwash.
If you are interested in learning more about dental implants, you would be doing yourself a big favor in scheduling a consultation with a dentist near you. If you are in the Salt Lake City, UT area and would like to speak to a dentist who has been performing this procedure for years with excellent results, look no further than Dr. David Cannon and the team at Cannon Dental. To schedule an appointment, please call (801) 406-9985.
