Dental implants are a permanent and appealing solution to replace missing or extracted teeth. They are better than other alternatives like bridges because no additional teeth need to be altered to place the new tooth.
The entire implant process is performed over the course of a few months. The first part of the process is to install the implant itself, where a screw is placed into the jaw bone. An incision is made in the gum so that the implant can be inserted. Multiple implants can be placed at once if necessary. After the implants are placed the gums are sutured.
Dr. Delk prefers to allow his trusted specialists to perform this highly technical procedure for his patients. It is vital for the patient that the implant is placed in the proper position with the utmost care and Dr. Delk feels that each of his patients deserves to have a specialist perform this surgical procedure.
The implant must be allowed about 3-6 months to heal, and during this time the jaw bone will form around the implant in a process called osseointegration. During this healing time you can have temporary crowns or temporary partial dentures created by Dr. Delk so that you can eat and speak normally and maintain a proper aesthetic appearance for your smile.
After the implant has healed it is time to create your crown. One appointment is used to make an impression of the position of the implant in your jaw bone, and is used to create your permanent restoration. Dr. Delk will have to send it to his outside lab to fabricate the prosthesis. Once the restoration is completed you can return to the office to attach the restoration permanently. Your smile will look just like it used to, and after a short period of getting used to the implant it will feel just like one of your own teeth.
