It's often thought that dental implants are the best choice when it comes to teeth replacement options, and to a certain extent, this is true. Many prospective candidates for dental implants might simply be put off by the time that is required for dental implants. In many cases, this time is necessary. The implant itself is a small metal screw (generally made from titanium for its hypoallergenic qualities) that is installed in your jawbone. It's unsurprising that a certain amount of healing time is required, but for some patients it's possible to bypass the majority of this waiting.

The Missing Tooth

A dental implant might be installed immediately after tooth loss, or you might have been living with missing teeth for years. This timeframe is a key aspect of whether or not you might be a candidate for an instant dental implant, allowing you to bypass a lot of this waiting time. If the tooth has been missing for quite some time, the jawbone itself and your gum tissue might have undergone a certain amount of recession. This is because it has no longer needed to support the missing tooth. In these instances, a key component of the healing period (known as osseointegration) is vital and unavoidable.

The Fusing Process

This osseointegration is when the jawbone and gum tissues actually fuse to the implant (essentially regrowing around it to permanently secure it into place). The timeframe on this can vary significantly from patient to patient, but it can take several months. Once the osseointegration process has been completed, only then can a dentist place a metal abutment on the implant, finished with a specially fabricated prosthetic tooth. This is why the waiting game can be a frustrating aspect of receiving dental implants. But what about if the tooth to be replaced has only just been removed, and you have a healthy jawbone and gum tissue?

An Immediate Dental Implant

Ask your dentist if you are a candidate for an immediate dental implant, wherein the prosthetic tooth is fabricated and attached to the implant almost immediately after the implant has been installed. The density of your jawbone and your level of occlusion are key factors that contribute to your suitability for this process. Occlusion refers to the speed with which your gum tissues heal after the installation of the implant. This is why an immediate dental implant is often finished (with the fitting of the prosthetic tooth) the day after the implant is installed. You need to follow your dentist's instructions to the letter if you receive immediate implants. The implant will be subject to loading (weight and other pressures that will immediately be applied), and as such, you don't want to jeopardise the stability of the implant.

Not all patients are suitable candidates for immediate dental implants, and yet it can be an effective way to bypass the waiting period.

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