considering a 2nd premolar implant. Help please.?

Question

I have a bad second premolar on my right side and I want to get an implant in its place. I have already weighed my options between an implant and a bridge and i have opted for the impant. Now I just want tp know what the exact process is. Correct my if im wrong. Extraction, time for bone to heal? (how much time?) then the implant is placed and how much time after the that do i get the crown? and is there any after implant care that I need to have done? How do i maintain an implant? Any info is greatly appreciated! Thanks Guys! I Love Yahoo Answers!

Also, How can I check the work of Dentists and Oral Surgeons that I may want to go to ?

Answer 1

Traditionally, the bone requires 3-6 months of healing before you can put an implant in. After the implant is placed, (using xrays and/or MRI), you must wait another 3-6 months, depending on the kind of bone you have. The implant remains buried under the bone during this time. Then the gum is oncovered, (fairly painless), a temporary abutment is placed, and then you can get fitted for your permanent abutment and crown. It goes pretty fast after that. A few weeks, maybe.

Many different companies have their own systems which they use and claim is the best. It depends on what brand your dentist/surgeon likes to use. I use a custom abutment, even though it is more expensive, but I get a great result that looks very natural and allows me to place the final crown at the same time.

However, some of the newer implant systems claim that you can insert it at the time of extraction and chew on it right away. I have not done this type, and would not want to be the first patient that my dentist tried it on. While it is possible that that is the way of the future, I don't want to be the guinea pig in my mouth.

For the second part, don't hesitate to ask how many implants the dentist has done, and what brand is used and why. Be sure to get all your questions answered. I take plenty of time to make sure the patient understands what they are getiing into

A well-placed implant will look good, feel right in your mouth, and be easy to care for. While it cannot decay, there is a possibility for gum problems around it, so be sure to keep it clean with brushing and flossing,(there is a special way to floos an implant) and get regular checkups. It's too expensive to get lazy and let it fail.

Good luck, you will love it!!

PS Check with the Chicago Dental Society or other local society in your area to get references of dentist who have not been reprimanded. Also, ask other dentists about anyone you are considering. Often it just boils down to a personality fit, because most dentists I know try very hard to do a good job.

Answer 2

I am on oral surgeon and can can answer your question...
First, congratulations on your choice for an implant.

The process: sometimes you will be able to have the implant placed at the time of extraction depending on remaining bone. You may require a bone graft if not enough bone remains. If this is the case then you can expect to wait about 4-6 months for the graft to heal prior to implant placement. Once the implant is in place, I let my patients heal for approximately 4 weeks. Then I place the temporary crown. I let that sit for approximately 2-4 weeks and then the patients general dentist can cement the final crown.

You need to maintain the implant just as you would a natural tooth. Brush and FLOSS around it! That's about it.

Talk to your oral surgeon too! He/she can answer a lot of questions.

Answer 3

A painful operation or a prosthesis... hmm... i know which i would choose.
I had sugery in my mouth a few years ago (nothing dental) and I wouldnt recommend it. When i woke from the anesthetic all i could eat was rice crispies sucked up through a straw!! lol
If i had a choice, i would deffinately choose the bridge, its a lot less painfull!!