What are the pros and cons of dental implants? Dental implants are great for replacing missing teeth and are easy to maintain. However, they can be expensive.

If you're getting ready for a dental implant procedure, you might be asking yourself some of these questions. We've put together this guide to give you a rundown on what dental implants are and what you can expect during the process. 

But the implant itself doesn't refer to the new "tooth." Dental implant meaning three different parts of a dental implant, including:

Implant 

An implant is a metal post (often made from titanium) that replaces the root of the tooth you're missing. In other words, it sits inside your jawbone. 

An abutment is a small piece of metal that attaches to the top of the implant just above your gum line. It is the section that will hold the implant and the crown together. 

The crown is the actual tooth you'll see when you smile. Your dentist will match the color and shape to the rest of your teeth, so it looks natural. 

Here's a quick breakdown of what you can expect when you get a dental implant. 

The first step of a dental implant is removing the damaged or problematic tooth you need to replace. In some cases, such as if the tooth has already fallen out on its own, you'll be able to skip this part. 

Depending on the condition of your problem tooth, it may have caused the jawbone around the root to decay and degrade, meaning you might not have enough healthy bone left to support your implant. 

In this case, you'll need to get bone grafting before you can get a new tooth. 

Your dentist will either take a small amount of healthy bone from another part of your body and insert it into your jaw or use a bone-substitute material to help the jawbone regrow. Either way, the process will take several months. 

Once your jawbone is ready, your dentist will insert the implant into the bone. Over the next few months, your bone will heal around the implant and fuse to the metal, securing it in place.  

This healing time may take another few months, but it's an essential part of the dental implant process. If you don't let the implant fuse to the bone before adding the abutment and the crown, it may slip out of place when you chew, which can be a painful and expensive problem to fix. 

As your bone fuses to the implant, your gums will heal over the top of it. When your dentist attaches the abutment, they will cut into the top of your gum again, exposing the tip of the implant. After attaching the abutment, they will then close the gum around it, so a small piece of metal remains exposed. 

You'll then need another few weeks to heal from this step. 

After everything heals, your dentist can finally place your crown on top of the abutment. You can then start using your new tooth as usual. 

As long as you have healthy gums and a healthy jawbone, you are likely a good candidate for a dental implant. However, there are a few people who may not be able to get this treatment, including people who:

• Smoke 
• Have heart conditions
• Have chronic diseases (such as diabetes) 
• Have some types of cancer 

If you have any of these conditions, bring them up with your dentist. They'll be able to recommend the best course of action to take next. 

Unfortunately, most dental insurance doesn't cover dental implants. But it depends on the type of insurance you have and the reason for your dental implant. 

This answer is different for every patient. The average dental implant procedure, from start to finish, takes anywhere from six weeks to six months. However, it can take as long as a year if you need extra time to heal.

Does It Hurt

You will feel some discomfort and mild pain during your recovery. Your dentist may prescribe some medication to help with the pain, but for most people, over-the-counter painkillers are enough to manage it. 

Do you think you might need a dental implant?

Our team at Finger Lakes Family Dentistry can help. If you live in the Painted Post, NY area, make sure you drop by our office or give us a call to schedule an appointment today!