Important Facts About Dental Implants Los Angeles Patients Should Know

By Lucille Lamb


People who have lost an individual tooth or several teeth in different places may be good candidates for dental implants. These consist of a synthetic tooth which attaches onto a titanium steel post that is surgically inserted into the jaw bone. To find out if they are eligible for dental implants Los Angeles patients can visit a dentist.

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.

If this procedure is to be successful, there needs to be enough bone in the jaw to hold the implant. The dentist will be able to assess this by performing an examination, making impressions of the teeth, taking x-rays and if needed, a CT scan. When the bone is insufficient, other preliminary procedures may be necessary, such as grafting or augmentation.

It may take a few months to one year to completely finish the installation of implants. This mainly depends on whether they are being placed in the upper or lower jaw, and if a one or two-stage installation technique is being used. In the two-step procedure, the steel post is first implanted in the patient's jaw in the first operation, and in the second one a metal abutment is added. Some dentists prefer a procedure which involves all work being done at once.

If the dentist is satisfied that there is enough bone, the first surgery to install the titanium post will be arranged. This procedure is usually done by an oral surgeon or a periodontist as it involves drilling into the jaw. After 4-7 months time, the next stage can be completed.

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.

Taking care of implants is no different than caring for natural teeth, they simply require brushing and flossing. The patient will need to see the dentist every 3 months to make sure the implant has taken properly, and eventually only every six months. Most often after getting dental implants Los Angeles patients will feel more confident about their appearance and can enjoy the results for as much as 25 years.




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