Last updated on August 25th, 2018 at 04:52 pm

Dental implants Indianapolis are man-made tooth roots that are used to support a man-made tooth for a missing natural tooth. Dental implants help to stop or prevent jaw bone loss. The dental implants Indianapolis procedure is categorized as a form of cosmetic dentistry or prosthetic dentistry.

Why Get Dental Implants Indianapolis?

Often times, folks that have lost teeth may feel too self-conscious to talk or smile. Additionally, biting irregularities caused by missing teeth can sometimes have a negative effect on the person’s eating habits, which can lead to secondary health problems such as malnutrition.

By replacing the missing roots, dental implants Indianapolis provide patients with the stability and strength that is required to eat all the different foods that they love, without having to struggle to chew. Also, dental implants Indianapolis help to stimulate and maintain the jaw bone, preventing any further bone loss. This in turn helps to maintain facial features.

Dental Implants Indianapolis: Initial Consultation, Implant Placement, and Procedure Recovery

In order to determine if dental implants Indianapolis are right for you, a consultation with your cosmetic dentist, periodontist or prosthodontist, and/or oral surgeon is needed. During this initial appointment, the dental professional will thoroughly examine your mouth, teeth and gums and also evaluate your bone density and quantity. This exam may involve X-rays and/or (CT scans) computer tomography scans to ensure that there is enough jaw bone structure for placing the dental implant(s), and also to determine exactly where the dental implants Indianapolis should be placed.

Depending upon the condition of your oral hygiene, oral tissues, and personal habits, and your commitment to follow the appropriate aftercare instructions, your Indianapolis dentist will advise you of the most suitable dental implants Indianapolis treatment plan. Some folks without sufficient gum tissue or bone require soft tissue or bone grafts, or the use of smaller diameter dental implants (also referred to as mini implants).

Depending on your particular situation, your dentist Indianapolis will let you know how long the entire procedure will take, how many appointments may be required and what you should expect after each treatment. During the initial consultation, options for sedation dentistry and local anesthesia (to numb both the affected and the surrounding areas), if necessary, should also be discussed.

Dental Implants Indianapolis Placement

Dental implants today are virtually indistinguishable from your natural teeth. Their natural look is helped in part by the functional and structural connection between the living bone and the dental implant. Dental implants are usually placed in a single visit, but require a varying period of osseointegration.

Osseointegration, we should note, is the process by which the dental implants anchor themselves to the jaw bone. Osseointegrated dental implants are by far the most frequently used and successful type of dental implant. An osseointegrated dental implant can take from three to six months to fully anchor and heal, at which point your cosmetic dentist can finalize the procedure by placing a crown, if necessary. The dental implants will fail if osseointegration does not occur.

Dental implants, which can be used to replace missing teeth, can be administered any time after adolescence or when the jaw bone is done growing. Certain health conditions, such as cancer, active diabetes, periodontal disease, may necessitate additional treatment before a dental implant procedure can be performed.

Dental Implants Indianapolis Procedure

Preparing the Jaw for Dental Implants

A dental implant is usually made up of a titanium material screw and a dental crown. A small pilot hole is drilled where the tooth is missing in the jaw, in order to help to guide the titanium screw that will hold the dental implant in place. To avoid damaging important jaw and/or  facial structures, such as the mandible or the inferior alveolar nerve, a cosmetic dentist Indianapolis must use great skill, technique, and expertise when drilling the pilot hole and sizing up the jaw bone. In many cases, when placing the dental implants, the dentist will use surgical guides that were created based upon the CT scans.

Implant Placement

Once the initial pilot hole is drilled into the jaw bone, it is then slowly widened and readied for placement of the dental implant screw. After it is placed, surrounding gum tissue is placed securely over the implant. Then, a protective cover screw is put into place on top to allow the implant site to heal and osseointegration to take place. After three to six months of healing, your Indianapolis dentist will uncover the dental implant and attach an abutment onto the implant. Sometimes, the abutment might be attached during the initial implant procedure. After the abutment is in place, your oral surgeon will then create a temporary crown. This new temp crown acts as a template around which the gum tissue will grow and shape itself in a very natural way. The implant process is finalized when the temporary crown is finally replaced with your new permanent crown.

Recovering From Dental Implants

Recovering from dental implants depends on several factors. Among them is the various procedures that were required to complete your treatment. Although, it is generally recognized that once a dental implant has been put into place, maintaining proper oral hygiene habits is crucial to ensure proper fusing of the dental implant and jaw bone structure. If an implant is cared for properly, it can remain in place for over 40 years.

Discomfort should be minimal after the initial surgical procedure. Swelling of your face and/or gums may occur, as well as possibly some minor bleeding or bruising around the dental implant site. Your dentist may prescribe pain medications to help relieve any minor pain or discomfort you might feel after the procedure.

As we noted earlier, complete healing from the dental implant procedure can takes up to six months. Again, this time span depends on each individual patients case and treatments. Follow-up exams with your oral surgeon’s treatment coordinators are required for monitoring your progress.

Follow-up and Aftercare For Dental Implants

The patient’s diet should be restricted to soft foods for five to seven days after dental implant surgery. If there are stitches present, they might need to be taken out by your dentist. However, an oral surgeon will typically use self-dissolving stitches that do not require professional removal.

If provisional restorations were placed along with the dental implant, it will be important to clean them as you would your natural teeth to ensure the best possible healing and fusing of the implant.

Among the leading causes of dental implant failure is the failure to brush and floss. This is because infection can sometimes occur if the dental implant and the surrounding teeth are not cleaned properly. Smoking can also attribute to a high failure rate with dental implants and should certainly be avoided after dental implant procedures

Be sure to call us today to schedule your free dental implant consultation! 317-662-0090