When a person has a missing tooth, one of the best ways to replace that tooth is a with a dental implant. However, there are a number of things that need to be considered if a person is thinking about a tooth implant in Ann Arbor MI.
The Bone Grafting Process
The first thing that needs to be done is the dentist will need to make sure that an individual is a good candidate for a tooth implant. Unfortunately, this can take a bit of time. When a person loses a tooth, bone loss in the jaw line will begin very soon after that. This can be minimal or it can be significant. In order to make sure individuals are good candidates for an implant, a bone graft will be inserted into the area where a dental implant will be located.
Typically, it can take anywhere from 4 to 6 months before the dentist is able to determine if the bone graft has been accepted. If the bone graft is accepted, it will fuse into the jaw line and allow a strong foundation on which the dental implant will be placed. If the bone graft doesn’t take, then a bridge may be necessary, as a dental implant won’t be possible.
Inserting a Dental Post
If the bone graft is accepted, the next step in the implant process is to install a post into the jaw line. This process can take a few months as well. Once the post has been installed, it will take time for the dentist to determine if the body will accept this foreign object. Often times, dentists will look for rejection in the form of continual infections. If all goes well and the body accepts the post, then the actual implant will be fashioned, placed over the post, and affixed to the post. Then, the process is complete.
Getting a Tooth Implant in Ann Arbor MI isn’t an expedited thing. It won’t be taken care of in one trip to the dentist. However, because a dental implant is permanent and because it offers increased stability and strength to an existing set of teeth, it is the option that many people go for after they have lost one or multiple teeth. To learn more about this and other dental procedures, you may want to browse our website for more information.
