If you need to get a tooth replaced, then one of your primary options is to get a dental implant. However, these implants are expensive and take quite a while to install. Therefore, it's a good idea to get all the facts before committing. To help you out with that, here is a beginner's guide to dental implants:

What is a Dental Implant?

A dental implant mainly consists of three components: the implant itself, the abutment, and the crown.

The implant is somewhat like a screw and is attached directly to the jawbone. It serves as an anchor, ensuring the stability of the implant and making your implant more durable than even a natural tooth.

The abutment basically serves as a bridge between the implant and the crown. It makes sure that the two are compatible and that the entire synthetic tooth will feel and look natural.

The crown is one of the most complicated parts and is a cap that is used for a wide variety of dental problems. Root canals are often followed by crowns, but crowns are more generally used in all situations where a filling would be insufficient. Crowns must be custom-made for just about every case, which means that there is a lengthy wait between getting fitted for a crown and getting it installed. You should expect to wait a few weeks or even months for the crown to be designed, built, and ready for installation.

So How Are Implants Installed?

Your implant will probably be installed either in a single step or several steps.

In multi-step implant installations, there is one major surgery followed, by two fairly minor surgeries. On your first visit, the implant will be installed. This is the longest surgery, since it will involve burrowing pretty deep into your gums. The next two surgeries will only involve displacing some of the tissue that may have healed over the implant.

The abutment will be added on the second and the crown will be placed last. The main reason for separate surgeries is that you need to give your teeth and gums time to heal between each process. They are fairly inflammatory, and your gums will be pretty sensitive after each component is installed. You should expect to wait several weeks between each step.

Single-step installations use special implants that are designed to allow the gums to heal around the implant rather than over the top of the implant. This makes the addition of the abutment and the crown much easier. since your dentist won't need to open up the healing tissue to access the implant.

What Should You Do If Your Implant Doesn't Fit Right?

If you feel uncomfortable, after everything has been installed, then you should talk to your dentist immediately. The crown is supposed to fit snugly and practically impossible to notice in your day-to-day life. If there is discomfort or pain, then the implant might have been installed incorrectly. For instance, the implant might have failed to integrate with your jaw, which means that the bone has not fused around the implant.

This can ultimately result in damage to the tooth, to surrounding teeth, to the gums, and even to the jawbone. The sooner that you get your implant adjusted to its correct position, the better your quality of life will be. Consider speaking to a dentist, such as Benjamin D Hull DDS, if you have any questions about dental implants.