Dental Implant Temporary Tooth
A dental implant is a surgically placed dental prosthesis that can replace one or more missing teeth. Implants are one of the best ways to replace teeth because they act just like a tooth root in helping support bone structure as well as providing a stable foundation for the restoration. Dental implants can support not only an individual crown but also partial or full denture, all fabricated to match your remaining natural teeth.
Dental implants are one of the more costly restorative options at the start, but they can easily last a lifetime and be more cost-effective in the long run.
How are dental implants placed?
If your dentist believes that you may be a candidate for dental implants, they will refer you to an implant specialist, either an oral surgeon or a periodontist. Once the implant doctor determines that you are a candidate for dental implants, they will schedule you for surgery.
The doctor will administer a local anesthetic and make a small incision in the gum tissue to gain access to the jawbone. They will then drill a small hole into the bone and place a titanium implant into the bone. If a patient does not have a sufficient amount of bone structure, they may require a bone graft before the implant surgery can take place. The bone graft will need a couple of months to heal before the implant is placed. Healthy and sufficient bone structure is crucial to the success of a dental implant.
Once the implant is in place, they will suture the gum tissue around the implant leaving a small portion of the implant exposed which will then be covered by a temporary abutment, or healing cap, to protect the implant while you heal. The healing time for a dental implant can be up to six months in order to allow the implant time to fuse with the jawbone, a process called osseointegration. During your healing time, you will see your implant doctor periodically for follow-ups and once they determine the implant is fully integrated, they will let your Dentist know it is time to have the tooth restored!
Temporary Tooth For Dental Implant
While your implant heals, your dentist will provide you with a temporary tooth to give you the appearance of a full smile and to provide some additional protection for the implant. There are actually a few options that may be available to you for your temporary tooth all of which your dentist will review with you and then together, you can determine which type will be best.
Not everyone is a candidate for every type of temporary restoration so it is important to disclose your dietary habits and lifestyle with your dentist so they can take these factors into consideration. Options you may be presented include: an essix, a flipper, a temporary bridge, or an immediate temporary crown.
- Essix retainer: An essix is a retainer-type temporary made from a thin, clear plastic that fits over the entire arch of teeth with a composite material in the space for your artificial tooth. An essix should be removed for eating, sleeping, and oral hygiene.
- Flipper denture: A flipper is a type of temporary tooth made of acrylic. It looks like a Hawley retainer with a fake tooth attached to fill the space and hooks onto other teeth. A flipper is removable and should also be taken out when eating, sleeping, and oral hygiene.
- Temporary bridge: A dental bridge uses crowns to affix to the teeth on either side of the affected space, which are joined together with a fake tooth that will fill the space. This can be temporarily cemented in place for easy removal. You will not take out your temporary bridge for eating, sleeping, or oral hygiene. Your Dentist will remove it right before they place your permanent restoration.
- Immediate temporary crown: A provisional (temporary) crown can be placed on your implant and is often used on the front teeth to give the patient the appearance of a tooth and allow the gum tissue to heal around the temporary in preparation for the permanent implant crown.
Patients who have worn a denture and are now having dental implants placed may be able to wear their denture as usual while they heal. Your doctor will let you know if this is appropriate for your individual case.
While dental implants are costly and do take a significant amount of time to complete, the comfort and stability that comes along with them makes it worth the effort and expense. If you need to have one or more teeth replaced, speak with your Dentist to determine if you are a candidate for dental implants.