You may have already discussed your dental condition with your dentist, and he or she might have recommended dental implants. Here is a simple guide to help you have an idea of what to expect:

Before the Dental Implant Procedure

Your dentist first ensures that you are a good candidate for dental implants. You might be required to give your medical history and an X-ray of your jawbone and teeth. Based on what is found, you can either be a good candidate for dental implants or your dentist can recommend an alternative treatment like dentures.

Inserting Implants

The first step is inserting dental implants in your jawbone. The dentist places you under general anaesthesia and then cuts your gum to access the jawbone. He or she inspects the jawbone to see if it will hold the dental implant. If it can't, it is reinforced, a procedure referred to as bone grafting, to make it thicker. A hole is then drilled to offer a place to screw in the dental implant. This is done for every missing tooth you have.

The dentist then closes your gum to give the dental implants healing time. The implants need to fuse strongly with your jawbone. The healing time can take months; therefore, let your dentist inform you of the exact duration.

You will be given a set of instructions for what to eat (of course, this might be soft food only for a while), how to clean your mouth correctly without causing injury, what medication to take, what worrisome signs to look out for, etc.

Attaching Abutments

The second step of the dental implant process is attaching abutments to dental implants. They form the attachment point for the artificial crowns/prostheses. The dentist cuts open your gum again to expose the dental implants that had been placed earlier. He or she inspects the healing and then goes ahead to attach the abutments.

Artificial Crown/Prosthesis Placement

This can be done on the second visit after the dentist attaches the abutments. Your dentist can also recommend placing them on a third visit. At this point, you need to do what your dentist recommends because he or she is geared towards the best outcome for you. If the prostheses are to be placed on a third visit, you need healing time, which might be less compared to the dental implants' healing period.

When you visit the dentist for the third time, he or she will inspect the healing and then take a mould of your teeth, a process known as custom fitting. The mould helps the dentist create precise prostheses, which he or she will attach on the same day or a different day.  

To learn more, contact a dentist that does dental implants.