Hi, it's Mia Armonde here to talk to you about family dentistry. As my small family grew into a large one, I found myself at the dental office on a regular basis. Every six months, the kids would go into the dentist for a cleaning or repairs to their teeth. During that time, I took an interest in the various ways the dental tools were evolving. Tools used in the dental industry have grown in leaps and bounds in the last few decades. For example, my kids went from hearing the dental drill to wearing headphones that completely canceled out the sound. Each time we go back into the dentist, I take a close look at the improvements that have arisen since the last visit. The results are astounding. I will cover my findings on this site, so you can also enjoy the improvements to dental tools and techniques.
The loss of a tooth can be a traumatic and embarrassing experience. Fortunately, modern dentistry has many solutions for people who are missing teeth. Dental implants are the most permanent option available, offering a surgical tooth replacement solution. Dental implant surgery is a major dental procedure, but it can be performed quickly. Knowing these four things can benefit patients who are planning to undergo dental implant surgery:
1. Your dentist will use the fewest number of dental implants possible
Dental implants are used to anchor artificial teeth in your mouth. Like the roots of your real teeth, dental implants extend all the way into your jawbone. Since implant surgery is invasive, your dentist will tailor your treatment to include the fewest number of implants possible. For instance, if you're missing multiple teeth that are adjacent to one another, your dentist can create a dental bridge that can be attached to a single implant. Fewer dental implants mean easier healing and less chance of infection.
2. You should expect to have multiple procedures
Dentists commonly perform dental implant procedures over multiple sessions. Doing the procedure this way ensures that your mouth will have time to heal after the initial surgery. The actual implantation is the most invasive step. Once that's been completed, your next appointments will be spent attaching your prosthetic teeth and ensuring that they fit correctly in your mouth.
3. You should take pain medication as soon as you get home
Taking painkillers before your dental implant appointment is unnecessary since your dentist will give you highly effective local anesthesia. However, the local anesthesia will wear off within a few hours of your surgery. Taking pain medication as soon as you get home will ensure that you don't suffer unnecessary discomfort. If taking prescribed opiate medications, you should wait until you're in a safe place and don't need to drive or operate dangerous equipment.
4. You shouldn't be concerned about oral bleeding
After your dental implants are put in place, your dentist will send you home to allow you to heal. Initially, you may experience some bleeding. This is normal and nothing to be alarmed about. Oral wounds tend to bleed a lot, and some blood loss is expected after any oral surgery. You can use clean gauze or a paper towel to staunch the bleeding if you find it bothersome. Biting down on a clean cloth can put pressure on the implant site to encourage your blood to clot more quickly.
Share2 June 2021
