When you think about dental implants, the first thing which would crop up is the drill. While it is true that you will have to encounter the dental drill when you get dental implants, you can erase the perceptions of pain from your mind. With the help of different types of anesthetics you can repair your smile minus much of the discomfort.
Background of Dental Implants
Dental implants are titanium fixtures which are drilled right into the bone tissue of the patient. Titanium is used in creating the dental implants since it is the only metal which is capable of fusing into the bone tissue. The process is known as osseointegration, and is responsible for the increased strength and stability that characterizes dental implants.
Anaesthesia Options
Local Anesthesia Commonly, dental implant procedures are done with the help of local anesthesia Local anesthetics are administered through an injection or a shot. This shot is the same thing which numbs up your teeth and surrounding gingival tissues whenever you go through a tooth extraction. If you’re scared that the shot will hurt, then your dentist can use a topical anesthetic which can numb the part of your gums which will receive the injection.
Sedatives. Since local anesthesia is not as potent as general anesthesia and because it only targets the tissues which directly surround the area close to the drill, some patients are still hesitant of opting for local anesthesia since the numbness could wear off during the middle of the procedure. However, sedatives, when used together with local anesthesia can give the patient a more relaxed feeling throughout the entire procedure.
General Anesthesia If a dentist predicts that the procedure will be very complicated or if the patient has dental anxiety, then it might be better for a person to undergo general anesthesia instead of the local variety. This form of anesthesia will actually put the patient to sleep.
Healing Times
The dental work cannot be attached to the dental implant right away. The fixture has to heal and integrate with the bone tissue completely first before the dentist can proceed further. A patient may have to wait for three to six months before the entire procedure can be completed. By this time, the osseointegration process will be completed and the dental implant will be stable enough for the dental work, such as the crown or the dentures, to be attached.
Image Courtesy Pinterest
