A quick guide to fitting dental implants

When you are an adult who has a missing tooth or teeth, it can impact your self-esteem, alongside causing potential problems with consuming food and biting into fruit like apples or vegetables like corn on the cob.

So, you may be looking for a solution that eliminates the potential movement that may occur with dentures and bridges, while also ensuring that you can bite into food as you would with your natural teeth. This is where oral implants come into play and can be exceedingly beneficial.

When you visit our team at High Dental, we will always be happy to discuss your suitability for dental implants Melbourne. Our team has extensive knowledge and experience in fitting oral implants and can guide you through every step of the process with ease.

But you may be wondering at this stage what exactly is involved. It is not simply a case of attending a dental appointment and then having dental implants Melbourne fitted the same day. In the following guide, you will be shown a standard outline of what occurs when you want to have oral implants fitted.

Consultation and X-rays

The first step is attending a consultation. During this, our team will assess the overall health of any remaining teeth that you have and your gums. If there are signs of active decay or gum disease, this will need to be treated. The next step will be for our team to take an X-ray. This is because when you have dental implants Melbourne fitted, your jaw needs to be stable and in good condition and not be damaged by any underlying health issues such as osteoporosis. If all is well, we will then book you in for the fitting.

The fitting

The fitting of oral implants sounds more intimidating than it is. Our team will numb the gum line and make some small incisions where we intend to fit the implant. Gently peeling the gum back, we will drill a hole into the jaw and fit the implants. If you have recently had a tooth extracted, we will simply use the vacant socket. Once securely fitted, the gum will be sewn up around the implant and the treatment is completed. Depending on how many implants you are having fitted, we may decide to spread this over several days, as the fitting of a single implant can take anywhere from 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

The aftercare

You will need to keep the implant site clean as the gum heals and the implant begins to fuse. We recommend rinsing the area with salt water as often as required and when you visit our team for post-operative checks, we will advise you on when you can start using a soft-bristled toothbrush to gently remove debris from the implant. If you spot any signs of infection, such as a fever, feeling unwell, swelling or discomfort, you need to contact our team as soon as possible.

Prosthetic attachment

After around 3 to 9 months, you will then be invited in to have the prosthetics fitted. This may be a single crown or a tooth, a fitted bridge or even a full set of dentures. The fitting can usually occur in a single appointment so you can leave the surgery with a gleaming new smile!

Long-term care

To care for your implants, you simply need to brush and floss them twice a day and attend biannual check-ups with our team, so we can keep an eye out for signs of gum disease which can cause oral implants to fall out prematurely if left unchecked.

DISCLAIMER

All treatment carries risks. Individual consultation is required with one of our practitioners to ensure that the treatment is right for you.