A lot of people fear tooth loss. But modern technology already crafted a better solution either to prevent tooth loss or to replace the missing tooth. It is called dental implants, which are minor surgical procedures that use an artificial tooth. There are many surgeons all over the world who can help you out including dental implant surgeons in San Diego.
Most periodontist recommend this kind of procedure to restore tooth loss, especially among elderly individuals. It is less painful and it creates a more natural finish compared to using dentures. Not to mention, it is also permanently embedded in the gums.
Dental implants can be two types. It can be Endosteal or Subperiostal. Each of these types has its own advantage, such as:
Endosteal. This type of implant is embedded deeply on the jaw bone, and it uses a sterile screw or cylinder to hold the artificial tooth, thus it is secured tightly in place. It is the most common procedure utilized by periodontists, and it is often recommended for those who want to swap their dentures for a permanent set of teeth.
Subperiostal. For those who do not have sufficient jaw bone height, this type of implant is often opted. There are no screws or cylinders to hold the artificial tooth, but instead, it uses metal braces that form a frame on the implanted tooth and it is secured on the gums.
As what have said, this is a painless procedure because the periodontist uses local anesthetics to freeze the pain receptor sites while the operation takes place. Post-operative pain is common, but this is often relieved by pain medications.
It is also advisable that the patient will remain on a soft diet while the healing phase takes place. This is to prevent accidental displacement of the implanted tooth. Other activities that are contraindicated immediately after the procedure are tooth brushing, running, and weight lifting. Complete bed rest for at least six to twelve hours post-operation is often recommended.
