Your Richmond Dental Implants Team
Dentistry techniques and technology have come a long way over the past several years, including dental implant procedures. Whether you’ve lost a tooth, or you have one that is decaying, you can receive a dental implant to replace it. The implant looks like a regular tooth, and you take care of it like a regular tooth. Contact Coppersmith Dental to find out more about dental implants.
Frequently Asked Dental Implant Questions
We have broken this page into sections based on the most frequently asked dental implant questions. The sections are:
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What Is a Dental Implant?
Your Richmond dental implants team can explain what this treatment is about and how we can help you with it. To begin, let us define what a dental implant is. A dental implant is an artificial tooth root. It looks similar to a screw and gets inserted into your jawbone. The implant bonds with your natural bone and becomes a base for an artificial tooth. Your dentist places a connector on top of the implant to hold the crown, a piece that looks like a tooth. A dental implant allows the artificial tooth to look and function like a healthy tooth.
Your Richmond Dental Implants Team Provides Implant Procedures at Coppersmith Dental
Dr. Raymond Tang leads your Richmond dental implants team here at Coppersmith Dental, and performs the necessary procedures. He is currently engaged with the California Implant Institute for advanced surgical procedures and stays up-to-date with the latest dental technology and surgical procedures, including the PRP approach. This process uses the patient’s own blood to create platelet-rich plasma to help promote healing.
What Is Bone Grafting?
In some cases, bone grafting is a part of the implant process. If your jawbone is too soft, or not thick enough, your dentist will place a bone substitute material in your jaw to create a more solid base. The type of graft and the overall procedure depends on your jawbone. If this treatment is needed, Dr. Tang will discuss your options and include them in your treatment plan.
Richmond Dentists Raymond Tang (left) and Erica Gyamfi (right)
What Is PRP?
PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma. It is a relatively new approach to promoting healing and tissue regeneration in dental and oral surgery procedures. During the procedure, a small amount of your own blood is drawn and placed in a PRP machine. It takes only a few minutes to form the PRP, which is used to help lower your risk of infection. PRP also helps to regenerate tissue more quickly, and since it comes from your blood, disease transmission is not a risk.
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How Do I Start The Process For Dental Implants?
The process of getting a dental implant starts with your initial consultation. As with any dental procedure, your first step should always be to contact your local dentist and request an appointment. There, your Richmond dental implants team can assess your needs, and create a treatment plan for you.
What Happens During Your Initial Consultation?
The initial consultation for a dental implant is slightly different than for other procedures. It starts with a CT scan to give the dentist a thorough overall look at your mouth and jaw. A scan also allows your dentist to locate nerves and sinuses so that they can be avoided during surgery. The scan will also reveal how much jawbone you have. You need this bone to hold the implant in place.
Dr. Tang will use this information to create a comprehensive treatment plan designed specifically for you.
How Long Does a Dental Implant Procedure Take?
A dental implant takes place in several stages, with time for healing between each of the procedures. The first step involves removing the damaged tooth, followed by preparation of the jawbone and grafting, if needed. The next step is the placement of the dental implant. After some time for healing, you can have the abutment placed and then the crown. The crown is the piece that resembles a real tooth. You can expect the complete process to take several months.
Is Special Care Needed for a Dental Implant?
Your dental implant will need the same care as your other teeth. Make sure to brush all your teeth twice a day, floss them every day, and see your dentist at Coppersmith Dental on a regular basis.
A dental implant is one of the best ways to restore the area around a missing tooth and give you back a beautiful smile. Contact Coppersmith Dental clinic today to set up an appointment and find out if you would benefit from receiving a dental implant.
Book An Appointment With Your Local Dentist In Coppersmith Corner
Why are Dental Implants so popular? Your Richmond Dental Implants Team Explains
What Are the Benefits of Dental Implants?
A dental implant has some benefits over other options for replacing a tooth. It not only improves your appearance, especially if you have one or more missing teeth in the front, but it also helps to improve your speech. An implant can also make you feel more comfortable and confident.
Choosing an implant over a bridge is often beneficial because a dental implant does not require the dentist to alter any of your other teeth to support it. This lack of alteration results in better oral health over the long term. Individual implants also allow you to easily brush and floss between the teeth, which is better for your oral hygiene.
Can Dental Implants Be Painful?
Many patients who have received implants report very little pain or discomfort from the procedure. Your dentist will use a local anaesthetic during the implant procedure to keep you comfortable. After the implant, you can expect some soreness, but you can treat any discomfort with over-the-counter pain medications.
