Step-by-Step Procedure for Placing Dental Implant Crowns

The installation of a dental implant crown completes the process of implant installation. Implants are one of the options those who have lost one or more of their natural teeth get to choose from. The prosthetic goes into the patient's jaw and it replaces the root of the lost tooth. A dental implant crown is then attached to it either directly or with the use of an abutment.
What goes on during the installation of a dental implant crown
Before getting an implant crown that serves as a replacement for their lost teeth, patients need to be cleared for implants. The dentist will talk to the patient about their medical history and any chronic conditions they are currently dealing with like diabetes. Such health issues can hinder a person's ability to recover from implant installation.
The dentist will also talk to the patient about their tobacco and alcohol use. Both habits make it harder for the body to heal. The dentist might use diagnostic tests like x-rays to evaluate the patient's bone density. Patients are required to have enough bone tissue to firmly hold the prosthetic in place before being cleared for implants.
Here is what goes on during the installation of the implant and the crown that serves as an artificial tooth:
- The patient might be given instructions on how to prepare for the surgery. This will likely include abstaining from alcohol, tobacco and any medications that can negatively impact the recovery process. The patient might also be asked to avoid eating the day of the surgery if general anesthesia will be used
- The dentist will then make an incision into the patient's gums so the jaw can be reached. A small hole is drilled into the bone tissue and the prosthetic is placed into the hole. Depending on the type of implant being used, this might be the end of the first phase of the procedure. For conventional implants, the incision is closed back up and the patient will have to wait up to six months for osseointegration to be complete. This is the process of bone tissue and the implant fusing together. If same-day or mini dental implants are being used, the implant crown will be attached during the same appointment
- For patients who get conventional implants, an abutment might need to be attached to the implant before it is crowned. To do this, the dentist will open up the incision previously made so the implant can be reached. The incision will be closed up for the final time and a crown will be attached to the implant. This usually marks the end of the procedure. The patient might be asked to come in for follow-up visits so the dentist can keep tabs on the implant
There are two main types of implant crowns used: Screw-retained and cemented. Their names signify how they are connected to the implant. Cemented crowns tend to be the most aesthetically pleasing, while screwed on crowns are easier to maintain.
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