How to Prepare for Dental Implant Surgery

6.4% of people in Canada don't have any teeth. Losing a tooth can be detrimental to your oral health. It can also negatively impact your self-confidence.

Dental implant surgery can help. But what is this procedure like and how do you prepare? Keep reading and learn more about it.

What Is a Dental Implant?

A dental implant is an artificial tooth that replaces one tooth at a time. Some implants can replace several teeth at once. A dental implant is drilled into your jawbone. This ensures that the implant doesn't move as you talk or chew. Implants last a lifetime.

Many people cannot tell the difference between a dental implant and a natural tooth since a dental implant resembles a natural tooth. A dental implant can improve the appearance of your smile and also improve your ability to chew and speak.

What Is Dental Implant Surgery?

Getting a dental implant requires a few operations. The first operation is the most invasive. It involves drilling into your jawbone to plant a metal post.

Your jawbone will grow around this post over time, anchoring it in place. It will then act as the anchor for the rest of the implant. This includes the abutment and the crown.

The crown is what looks like a real tooth. The abutment is a sort of shock absorber between the crown and metal post. Some people need to have a bone graft before this first operation.

This is necessary if your jaw is too thin to support the metal post. The last part of the procedure is installing the crown. This is far less invasive than installing the metal post.

The entire process may take several weeks or months.

How to Prepare for Dental Implant Surgery

You can prepare for dental implant surgery by not eating or drinking anything 12 hours beforehand. This will ensure that your mouth is clean.

You should only eat very soft foods or smoothies as you recover. Eating anything hard can be detrimental to your healing process. You should also ask your dentist questions before going through with the surgery.

Disclose any medications you may be taking. Certain medications may prevent you from being a good candidate for this type of surgery. You should not take supplements like vitamin C or omega-3 before the surgery.

You should also make sure you are comfortable before the surgery. Make sure you sleep well so that you aren't stressed or uncomfortable with the procedure.

Don't forget to clean your teeth before the procedure. Keeping your mouth clean will benefit you when it's time for surgery. It can reduce the risk of infection as well.

Recovery time is usually a couple of weeks.

Contact NW Calgarly's Dentist for Dental Implant Surgery

Dental implant surgery is a big step to take, but it can benefit your dental health for lifelong. You can prepare for this surgery by taking care of your oral health and keeping yourself comfortable.

Northland Village Dental Centre in NW Calgary can help you with your dental implant needs. Contact us for our dental services.