Dental Implants Before and After — What to Expect on the Procedure?

Dental implants can transform a smile. They can replace damaged or missing teeth and restore proper tooth function. Patients can eat whatever they want, chew easily, speak without issue, and smile for photos with confidence. How dental implants look before and after the procedure can impress patients and transform how they look in pictures and in real life. 

Dental implants are small titanium rods that are surgically inserted into the jawbone and function as artificial roots for prosthetic teeth. After successful implantation, either prosthetic teeth, a bridge, or dentures can be attached to the dental implant to replace all damaged teeth. 

If you are considering a tooth replacement option, here is what you can expect from dental implants before and after the procedure. Visit this website. 

Before a Dental Implant Procedure

A dental implant procedure is a form of surgery and requires a complete dental examination. Your dentist needs to know the position of all your teeth and if there is any damage to your gums or jaw. 

Your dentist takes 3D X-rays of your mouth and either takes a dental impression or uses the X-ray to build a model of your teeth. Your dentist examines the full results, and the model is used to plan your implant surgery and better understand where the dental implant should go and how the prosthetic should attach and be shaped. Learn more information. 

Any damaged teeth or leftover roots from missing teeth will need to be pulled first, and your gums or jaw will need to be repaired if necessary. This could involve a bone graft if your jawbone lacks sufficient density or thickness to support a dental implant post. Your dentist might also restore gums damaged by gingivitis or periodontal disease with scaling and root planing or flap surgery before an implant procedure can take place.

Some patients might require a round of antibiotics before surgery. This is often done to reduce the chance of infection following the surgery and reduce the likelihood of rejection by the body. 

Your dentist may also discuss sedation options. The procedure is typically performed under local anaesthesia. However, at the Bright Dental Group, we offer inhalation sedation which uses nitrous oxide to calm anxious patients.

After a Dental Implant Procedure

After your dental implants have been placed, it is essential to care for them well. The recovery process should be simple and relatively pain-free. Immediately following your procedure, you should follow your dentist’s hygiene guidelines to ensure all wounds heal properly. 

In some cases, your doctor might prescribe antibiotics or pain relief medication. You should take these medications as directed. If you are given antibiotics, take the entire course of medication to ensure maximum efficacy, and do not consume alcohol while taking antibiotics or pain medication. 

You should follow any dietary guidelines you are given. You should avoid eating hard foods in the first few days and weeks following your procedure. Eat a nutrient-dense, soft food diet, like lukewarm broths or soups, scrambled eggs, and fruit purees.

When your implants have completely healed, you should maintain a full oral hygiene regimen. Just because implants don’t get cavities doesn’t mean you should neglect to brush and floss. You should brush and floss normally and continue to get regular dental check-ups twice a year. Get more details. 

Maintaining oral hygiene is key to helping your dental implants last their full lifespan. If you take good care of your implants and other cosmetic treatments or crowns, they can easily last decades, giving good-looking, properly functioning teeth for years to come. 

Restore Your Smile with Dental Implants

Many patients will be surprised just how transformative their procedure was and how different the dental implants before and after photos look. Any dentistry gallery will be full of positive before and after pictures that can show just how life-changing these implants are. If you have broken or missing teeth, speak with a dentist from the Bright Dental Group on (02) 4708 9691 today. 

Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

References

Antibiotics in dental implants: A review of literature
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5074034/ 

Comparison of Long-term Survival of Implants and Endodontically Treated Teeth
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3872851/