Lost a Tooth? Now What Colorado Springs Family Dentist Walk Us Through the Process, PART 3

This four-part article series explains what you should do in the event that you lose one or more of your adult teeth, whether it is the result of an accident or tooth decay.

Welcome to the third installment of this four-part article series in which we speak to a panel of experienced Colorado Springs family dentists on tooth loss and the virtues of dental implants. In our previous article installment, it was explained that dental implant procedures are typically done in a separate appointment so that your dentist or surgeon had adequate time to plan treatment in greater detail. Now, let’s take a look what happens on D-day!

On the day of my procedure, what can I expect?

“If you’re only having one tooth replaced, you’ll arrive at the dental implant facility at the scheduled time. In most cases of single tooth replacement, provided the damage is isolated to the tooth and has not included the jawbone as might be the case with a bad accident, the procedure shouldn’t take more than an hour. Afterwards, you’ll be free to return home with some prescription pain-killers, some anti-inflammatories and post-operative care instructions.”

Does it hurt to have implants placed?

“In preparation for treatment, the gum surrounding the implant site will be thoroughly numbed so that you don’t feel a thing throughout the procedure,” explain the dental implant dentists in Colorado Springs. “If you’re really nervous, anxious or uncomfortable, you can speak to your dentist or surgeon about also receiving sedation. This’ll help the treatment whizz by without you really registering what’s going on, but you’ll need to arrange for someone to drive you home.”

What is involved in sedation? Is it true that it makes you feel awful afterwards?

“The sedative medication used by most dental implants surgeons is easily metabolized by the body, so once its effects have worn off, most patients don’t feel anything other than a little tired. It’s extremely unusual for patients to experience “hangover” symptoms. If you have in the past, you may be slightly allergic to certain sedative medications and you should mention this to your dentist or surgeon.”

“With regards to how sedation works, there are three primary modes of administration: (1) nitrous oxide gas, which is breathed in through an oxygen mask, (2) Intravenous sedation, which is administered directly into the vein and (3) a pill, which is usually taken 30 minutes to an hour before the procedure. The method used varies depending on which dental implant surgeon you go to in Colorado Springs, so just speak to yours during the planning stages of your treatment.”

After sedation and anesthesia and before I’m allowed to return home, what exactly happens during dental implant treatment?

“In straight-forward cases of tooth replacement, any remaining tooth structure will be removed from the jaw and the implant site will be thoroughly cleaned to minimize the risk of post-operative infection. The dental implant will then be gently inserted into the prepared site and any incisions in the gums sewn up. Remember, you won’t typically feel much during this entire process because your gums will have been thoroughly numbed. It’s only once surgery has been drawn to a close that your new tooth or healing cap will be attached to the implant. Some modern dental implant procedures provide patients with an implant and a new tooth on the same day,” say Colorado Springs family dentists.”

Stay Tuned for Part 4

To find out more about the journey involved in getting teeth replaced with dental implants, stay tuned for the final installment of this four-part article series.