Dental Implant Treatment Stages
If you are missing one or more of your natural teeth, there are many highly effective tooth replacement options available to you. However, one option offers considerable benefits in comparison to the other tooth replacement methods: dental implants.
Simply stated, dental implants are the most secure, durable, and lifelike method of replacing missing teeth that modern dentistry has to offer. Dental implants are titanium posts that are surgically embedded into the jaw, where they act as artificial tooth roots for custom-crafted dental restorations. Depending on the needs of the individual patient, dental implants can be used to anchor single crowns, bridges, and even full sets of dentures.
Pittsburgh cosmetic dentist Edward Narcisi is pleased to team with the region’s most esteemed oral surgeons to provide world-class implant dentistry to his patients. Once the implants have been placed and are secure, Dr. Narcisi attaches stunning porcelain restorations to them in order to complete the patient’s smile.
If you have any questions about dental implants or you would like to schedule a private, one-on-one consultation with Dr. Narcisi, please contact our Pittsburgh cosmetic dentistry practice today.
Stage One: Oral Surgery
After your initial consultation with Dr. Narcisi, you will be referred to a local oral surgeon who will perform the actual implantation process. If you have insufficient jaw bone density to support the implant posts, you will first have to undergo a bone grafting procedure to build up the jaw. Otherwise, the dental implant surgery can commence right away.
During this first surgical appointment, your dental implant or implants (depending on how many teeth you are missing) will be surgically embedded into your jaw. The implant posts are essentially titanium screws. The oral surgeon creates a pilot hole through an incision in the gums, into which the post is placed. The gums are then sutured closed.
Stage Two: Osseointegration
Over the next four to six months, the dental implant fuses with the jawbone through a process called osseointegration. In essence, the implant will become part of your natural anatomy. Your body does not recognize titanium as a foreign material, which is why there is very little possibility of implant rejection.
Once your jaw and gums have had the opportunity to heal, you will return to the oral surgeon’s office for the next phase of the procedure.
Stage Three: Addition of the Abutment
During your next appointment with the oral surgeon, your dental implant will be uncovered through an incision made in the healed periodontal tissue. An abutment will then be attached to the implant. This abutment will serve as the point of connection between the implant and your restoration. Once the abutment has been placed, your gums will be allowed to heal for approximately two weeks, after which you will return to Dr. Narcisi’s cosmetic dentistry practice in Pittsburgh.
Stage Four: Implant Restoration
When you return to Dr. Narcisi’s office, he will perform the final stage of your dental implant process: the restoration of the implant. At his practice in Pittsburgh, dental implants can be topped with dental crowns, dental bridges, or full sets of dentures, depending on your needs. In any case, you can depend on Dr. Narcisi to provide you with restorations of the highest quality. Once in place, no one will be able to distinguish between your dental restorations and your natural teeth!
At our cosmetic dentistry practice in Pittsburgh, dental implant timeline considerations and other related issues will be discussed in detail during your initial consultation with Dr. Narcisi. Contact us today.