Dental Implant Overview in Vero Beach

Before Surgery

Implant surgery is a relatively minor procedure. You may need some preparatory examinations done via x-rays or CT scans. This is a useful guide for your dentist, who will determine your bone structure, bite, and other relevant information to perform the implant surgery.

During Surgery

After being given an anesthetic, the first part of the surgical process is to create a small hole in the jawbone – this is known as osteotomy. Your dentist will make small incisions into the surrounding gum tissue to create flaps to look at the shape and location of the bone. Your dentist may have created a surgical template marked with drilling locations. If that’s the case, it may be inserted into your mouth during this time. Drilling takes place so that the hole progressively increases until it’s the size and shape for the new implant to fit perfectly. Although this sounds painful, the anesthetic should prevent you from feeling any pain. All you should feel is some pressure and vibration.

The next step is to place the implant directly into the drilling site for the fusing process to begin. Once they’ve been inserted in place, your dentist may take more x-rays to ensure the positioning of the implants is perfectly correct.

Finally, they will close the small flaps in your gums by sealing them with sutures. If you have dissolvable ones, they don’t need to be removed. Standard sutures should be removed within a few weeks of your dental implant procedure.

After Surgery

Surgeries that have gone well usually have a high success rate. You will have to take some care with your mouth and teeth in the few days immediately following your procedure.

Your dentist may prescribe you non-steroid anti-inflammatory medication to take in the first few days after the surgery. This will help reduce any swelling or discomfort you may feel. If those aren’t strong enough, your dentist may give you an opiate-based medication to take with (or in place of) your original pain relief. Many dentists will also prescribe a course of antibiotics, in addition to products such as antibacterial mouthwash. This should minimize the risk of infection.