To permanently replace lost or broken teeth, a periodontist or oral surgeon can perform dental implant surgery. This is generally an outpatient procedure and requires local or general anesthesia. This procedure is done in stages and involves multiple visits.
Procedure
On the day of the surgery, a titanium implant cylinder is placed in the prepared jaw bone. The surgeon may leave a small flap of skin protecting the implant. In general, the incision site is very small and does not require many stitches, so you should not experience excessive bleeding. You will be able to eat most normal food after the surgery, except for crunchy things such as potato chips, or hard things that could poke at the gum. Also, you should chew on the side of the mouth that was not operated on.
Medicine
Antibiotics are prescribed, and you take one dose the night before surgery. The typical antibiotic course runs for ten days after surgery. If you are having local anesthesia, you may also be able to take Valium, which will keep you calm during the procedure. You will most likely also have pain medication such as hydrocodone, or an acetaminophen/ibuprofen hybrid that serves as an anti-inflammatory and pain killer.
Long Term Benefits After Surgery
Having the cylinder directly implanted into the jaw bone helps prevent resorption of the bone, which occurs in areas of the jaw that do not have tooth roots. Replacing a lost or broken tooth with an artificial implant can also boost self confidence.
