Here at Williams Lake Smiles, we receive many patients who are suffering from missing teeth and the problems associated with them. When we speak to them about dental implants and the restoration options they give our patients, many of these people are confused about the implant process and how it is capable of providing the results the treatment has become known for. Today, Dr. Rudy Wassenaar is blogging to speak to Williams Lake, BC area patients about the process of osseointegration, which is responsible for the comfort and reliability that comes with dental implants.
How Dental Implants Work
Dental implants are so successful because they fuse directly to the patient’s jawbone, just like natural teeth do. This is possible because the jawbone is naturally capable of regenerating itself. When this regeneration process is used to anchor an implant fixture into place, it is called osseointegration. The reason this fusion between fixture and jawbone is possible is because the implant fixture is made from titanium, which is a biocompatible alloy. During the placement surgery, this implant fixture is placed in the patient’s jawbone, which causes the regeneration process to begin. This starts a three to six-month long period of recovery, during which osseointegration begins.
While your implant heals, your jawbone creates new bone tissue that grows up along the implant fixture, wrapping around it and pulling it into its proper place. Some forms of implant fixture are made porous, with small holes covering them. Newly regenerated bone tissue will weave itself through these small holes, further latching on to the structure. It is thanks to this process that dental implants are able to provide the level of results that they are becoming known for.
Because of how important successful osseointegration is to the dental implant process, there are some steps we recommend our patients take to ensure that the process proceeds as planned:
Avoid chewing directly on top of your healing implant, as undue pressure can put the process at risk.
Be sure to avoid using a straw to drink a beverage. This is because suction can dislodge the blood clot protecting your healing implant from bacteria.
If you smoke, it is important that you give up the habit while undergoing the dental implant process. The reason for this is that tobacco and nicotine are both detrimental to your oral health, and can increase your chances of infection.
Call and Schedule a Consultation with Dr. Wassenaar
Thanks to osseointegration, we are able to provide patients with new replacement teeth that work and feel just like natural teeth. With this level of quality possible, it’s no wonder why so many patients are choosing to restore their missing teeth with dental implants instead of with other treatment types, such as dentures and dental bridges. If you would like to learn more about this treatment or the process of osseointegration, then contact our office and schedule your no-obligation consultation with Dr. Rudy Wassenaar today. We look forward to hearing from you soon!
