Undergoing oral surgery and receiving a tooth extraction can be an unpleasant experience. An even more unpleasant feeling is continuing your day-to-day with a missing tooth. Not only can it be uncomfortable, but it can also be inconvenient, especially when trying to eat or speak. It’s perfectly understandable why you’d want to fill that gap in your teeth as soon as possible. Your dentist will most likely recommend a dental implant, but when one receives an implant after extraction will vary from patient to patient.
Dental implant surgery is a procedure that replaces tooth roots with metal screws and is for people who need replacements for damaged or missing teeth. A small hole called an osteotomy is made in the bone and the titanium implant is carefully screwed into this hole at a predefined torque value. Usually a healing cap is screwed into the implant to give the Dentist access to the implant after healing has occurred. Healing usually takes 3-4 months. During the time the bone grows into all the microscopic gaps on the surface of the implant which stabilizes it. After healing a crown can be made and this crown would replace the healing cap.
A dental implant may be the right option for patients who:
Sometimes it’s possible to receive an immediate placement during the same appointment as the extraction. An immediate implant placement option may work for you if you’re free of gum disease and have a healthy jawbone that can support the implant.
While immediate placement after extraction can help dentists reduce the number of surgical procedures, it also has drawbacks. For example, an immediate implant is a more complex treatment and may lead to a higher implant failure rate.
Early implant placement, also known as immediate-delayed implant placement, often occurs 2-3 months after extraction. Why the long wait? Well, it’s to ensure that your gums are healed and give your body time to fight any potential infections. Because this procedure happens soon after a tooth extraction, it allows you to avoid the risk of receiving a bone graft.
Delayed implants happen more than 3 months after extraction. This implant option is necessary if gum disease or another condition has impacted the health of your oral tissues. This approach is also usually the most predictable. If you’re experiencing an oral problem after extraction, you may require a bone graft or another procedure before your tooth replacement surgery.
You may not have a choice if you want to speed up the time frame of your procedure. However, you can follow some specific steps to avoid unnecessary delays before receiving dental implants in Winnipeg.
It can be hard to determine how long it will take to replace your tooth loss. It’s integral to stay patient and continue taking care of your oral health.
Knowing that you may have to wait an extended period before receiving your dental implant can make you question whether the wait is worth it. Trust us, we understand that going that long without one or more teeth can be a lot to ask, but there are several reasons why waiting for your implant is worth it.
Want to learn more about receiving a tooth implant? Contact your Winnipeg dentist today. Our clinic provides several dental services, including implants. We can assess your oral health and go over your tooth replacement options to ensure you maintain your beautiful, healthy smile.