How Soon Can You Get Dental Implants After Extraction?

Having dental implants is a good way to replace missing teeth and restore your smile. Without teeth, it is not only difficult to chew your food, but you may be embarrassed about your appearance. You might even avoid being around people altogether. Implants are a long-lasting solution though it involves a long process. You might need to have the dentist extract some of your teeth before starting the procedure. This will require a waiting period.

These patients are good candidates for dental implants

Implants might not be the right choice for everyone, but adult patients can benefit from them. Implants restore the mouth’s function and can withstand the wear and tear of regular teeth. People who have a few missing teeth should consider this treatment. A dentist may recommend implants for patients who have severe tooth decay or significant damage to the teeth. In these cases, the teeth may be unsalvageable. Implants are a good option for people who still have strong jawbone growth.

Discussion with the dentist

Patients who are interested in getting implants should first consult their dentist. The patient can explain their needs and goals while the dentist will talk about the dental implant process and what the person can expect. The dentist will take X-rays and make impressions of the person’s mouth. This allows the dentist to make a treatment plan and see whether other options would be more effective.

Extraction

Some patients come to the dentist having missing teeth. Others still have teeth but realize the dentist might need to pull them. If teeth extraction is required before implant surgery, it will delay the process. After removing any teeth, the dentist will not start the implant procedure for three to six months. This allows time for the patient to heal and prepare for the upcoming surgery. The waiting period may also depend on how many teeth the dentist needs to remove.

The surgery

One of the challenges with getting dental implants is that it can be a lengthy, time-consuming process. It will include multiple trips to the dentist’s office and invasive surgeries. The first one is where the dentist inserts the titanium alloy posts deep into the jaw. To do this, the dentist numbs the patient and makes an incision in the gum. The posts are long and screw-like. Over the next few months, they will fuse with the jawbone.

Once the patient has healed, the dentist will once again open the gum, this time exposing the top of the post. An abutment attaches to the post, and the dentist closes and dresses the incision point. Lastly, after more healing, the patient returns to the office and gets crowns on top of the abutments. The crowns are natural-looking, restoring the patient’s smile and ability to chew effectively.

Out with the old and in with the new

If you take good care of your teeth, they should last a lifetime. Of course, you cannot foresee incidents such as injuries that could knock out your teeth and ruin your smile. Also, if you do have badly decayed teeth, your dentist may extract them. Then, you can get dental implants and enjoy the full use of your mouth again.

Request an appointment here: or call Gilroy Dental Associates at (408) 842-2818 for an appointment in our Gilroy office.

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