Dental implants have been growing in popularity as a safe and effective solution for replacing a lost tooth. Your dentist or oral surgeon might recommend a bone graft procedure a few months in advance to make sure you have enough structure to anchor your implant firmly.
Once it has been established that there is enough strong and healthy bone material in your jaw, the implant procedure can be done on an outpatient basis. During the procedure, the oral surgeon creates a narrow channel in the bone. They will then screw a titanium abutment into the channel. Titanium is the ideal metal for the abutment as it is biologically safe and in time it will actually bond with the bone material itself, creating a very strong anchor.
When the procedure is completed, the oral surgeon will place a temporary cap over the abutment to protect it.
Once everything is healed and anchored in place, your dentist will fit you for a crown to be placed over the abutment. The final crown and implant is very durable. With the proper care, your new implant can last for many years to come.
If you have questions about the dental implant procedure or if you are curious whether it might be right for you, please feel free to call us at 918.743.1351 to schedule an appointment.