Preparing Your Jaw for Implants
Dental implants are very important for those who have lost a tooth due to an accident or other causes. These dental implants can replace your lost tooth and make you smile with confidence.
However, it must be remembered that dental implants need a proper mechanism to keep them in place for a long time. A dental implant has two parts: a cylinder that is placed in the jaw where the tooth roots had been, and an abutment that is screwed into the cylinder. A crown (the visible part) is placed on top of the abutment.
The cylinder must be stable enough to keep your dental implant in place. In many cases, especially in older people or those with bone problems, the jaw is not strong enough to support it. It may be too fragile, and your dentist will ask you to undergo bone grafting.
In bone grafting, the jaw is strengthened with an external piece of bone or a material that acts like bone. Your jaw is allowed to rest for several months to allow the newly grafted piece to adjust. Once the dentist considers the jaw strong enough to hold the implant in place, they will perform the surgery and place the dental implant.
