The process of getting dental implants is a little different for each patient. Some individuals can undergo their implant placement surgery very soon after their initial consultation. For others, though, additional steps are necessary. You might need one or more preliminary procedures prior to receiving your implants. What might those procedures be, and what is their importance? This blog post explains.
Gum Disease Treatment
Before you qualify for dental implants, your gums must be healthy and free from infection. Otherwise, harmful bacteria from your gums might invade the bone around your dental implants and cause them to fail. In contrast, healthy gums provide a solid foundation for dental implants.
The best treatment for gum disease depends on its severity. In its early stage, known as gingivitis, a thorough dental cleaning and improved oral hygiene habits might suffice. However, if the disease has advanced to its later stages, you may require more intensive therapy. This could include scaling and root planing, which involves the careful removal of plaque and tartar from above and below your gumline. For more severe cases, surgical procedures might be required.
Bone Grafting
Dental implants require a certain amount of healthy bone in your jaw for proper anchorage and support. Sadly, the bone can deteriorate due to factors like tooth loss, injury, gum disease, and certain other conditions. During your implant consultation, imaging scans can reveal whether your jaw is healthy enough to provide a strong base for your dental implants.
Bone grafting involves the placement of additional bone material in the deficient areas of your jaw. This material could come from your own body, a donor, animal sources, or synthetic alternatives. Over several months, your body should integrate the bone graft, resulting in increased bone volume and density at the implant site.
Tooth Extractions
If you have teeth that are severely damaged, decayed, or loose, your dentist may recommend extraction as part of your implant preparation. Removing compromised teeth helps eliminate ongoing infection, discomfort, and potential complications. It can also make room for a beautiful new implant denture.
Tooth extraction is a straightforward procedure in most cases, but careful attention is given to preserving as much bone and gum tissue as possible. In certain instances, your dentist might place a bone graft in the socket immediately after extraction. This technique, known as socket preservation, prevents bone loss and prepares the site for a future implant.
Sometimes, the extraction and implant placement can occur during the same appointment, especially if the site is infection-free and the bone is sufficiently robust. In other situations, you may need to wait a period of weeks or months to allow for proper healing and bone regeneration.
Do not be discouraged if you learn that you need one or more preliminary procedures before getting dental implants. These treatments can allow your new teeth to thrive!
Meet the Practice
At Infinity Dental Care in Hillsboro, we are proud to provide start-to-finish dental implant services. We combine advanced technology with our high level of skill to keep the chances of complications to a bare minimum. If you are interested in learning more about dental implants or possible preliminary procedures, we would be happy to answer any questions. Contact our office at 503-352-5116.