When you decide to get dental implants, you won’t always be able to have them placed right away. In many cases, specific treatments will need to be performed to ensure that the mouth and jawbone are ready for implant posts. The kind of preliminary work that you might require before dental implant placement can vary based on your circumstances, but here are a few of the most common examples.
Tooth Extractions
The idea of having a tooth extracted before receiving dental implants might sound odd at first; after all, isn’t the whole point to fill the empty space in your smile? However, the fact of the matter is that sometimes the tooth or teeth that need to be replaced are still in the jaw. For example, you might have a tooth that has become so severely infected that not even a root canal can save it.
Dental implant placement can occur immediately after an extraction, but it can also be performed about two or three months afterward. It’s important not to wait too long to have the surgery done, as your jaw will start to lose bone density when there’s no longer a tooth to stimulate it.
Bone Grafting
Has your tooth been missing for a long time? If so, chances are quite a bit of bone loss has already occurred in your jaw. To ensure that the jawbone has enough height, width, and density to receive dental implant posts, bone grafting may be recommended.
Bone tissue is collected from a donor or your own body. (It might come from your chin, your hip, or your shin depending on the circumstances.) Said tissue is surgically placed in the jaw so that it can fuse with the bone around it. Sometimes a synthetic bone-like material may be used instead.
Sinus Lift
Some people have sinus cavities that are larger than average. This can be an issue when replacing the upper molars and premolars with dental implants; if the sinus is too close to the jaw, it might end up being penetrated if implant posts are placed. A sinus lift may need to be performed in order to solve this issue.
This procedure is somewhat similar to a bone graft in that transplanted bone tissue (or synthetic grafting material) is used to add height to the jaw. However, a sinus lift also involves raising the sinus cavity slightly so that it doesn’t interfere with dental implant surgery.
The dental implant process typically takes several months, so before you begin, you should make sure that you’re familiar with the different preliminary procedures you might need. You can get a professional’s insight by setting up your initial consultation.
About the Author
Dr. Nicholas Brong loves working with his hands, which is part of why he became a dentist. He is a member of the Minnesota Dental Association as well as SPEAR Education. He’s proud to work with local specialists to help his patients rebuild their smiles with dental implants. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Brong at Zumbro Family Dental in Rochester, visit his website or call (507) 288-1066.
