mercredi 12 juin 2013

Important Facts About Dental Implants Los Angeles Patients Should Know

By Lucille Lamb


If someone has lost one or more teeth, he or she may be referred for dental implants. These are surgically installed artificial titanium posts which are topped with a prosthetic tooth. To learn more about dental implants Los Angeles patients can see a dentist to discuss this option.

The implant unit is intended to replace the lost tooth and its root system and is made up of three parts. The titanium post that is surgically placed in the jaw, a metal collar which goes over it called an "abutment" and the porcelain or composite crown, which is adhered with either dental cement or a screw.

In order for this procedure to be effective, there must be sufficient bone in the jaw and it needs to be strong enough to hold the implant in place. To determine if this is the case, the dentist will examine the patient's mouth, make some impressions, and take some x-rays and possibly a CT scan. If there is not enough bone, the dentist will discuss options to remedy this such as augmentation or grafting.

The total length of time to complete the procedure depends on the whether a one or two-stage approach is used and if the implant is on the upper or lower jaw, as the former takes longer. Using the traditional process, the steel post is inserted in the first surgery and another is performed to secure the abutment. Some dentists prefer to install the entire implant, including the post and crown at once.

Once it has been confirmed that the patient has adequate bone in his or her jaw, surgery will be done to secure the titanium post. An oral surgeon or periodontist normally performs this operation since it consists of actually drilling a hole into the jaw bone. The next stage in the process is usually done 4-7 months later.

The reason for waiting a few months after the installation of the implant, is because it needs time to fuse with the bone and act as the "root" for the synthetic tooth. The second procedure consists of securing a small, metal collar called an "abutment" to the post which separates it from the gums. These are sometimes left in place for 10 to 14 days and replaced with a crown and other times they are permanently left in.

A temporary crown may be affixed to either the abutment or directly onto the steel post, and is worn by the patient while his or her permanent crown is being made according to the impressions the dentist made. The softer temporary crown facilitates healing of the gum tissues. After about 4-6 weeks, the permanent crown will be attached using screws or dental cement.

Implants require no different oral care than real teeth do, simply brush and floss them. The patient will return to the dentist to get the implants checked every three months at first, and later on every six months. Overall, after the installation of dental implants Los Angeles patients will be happy with the natural look they provide and most often they will last up to 25 years.




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