Several years ago I decided to take a trip to the dentist after skipping multiple appointments for over 15 years. I truly had a dental anxiety and had a hard time getting over my fears. Thankfully, my dental visit went smoothly with only four cavities identified. What I did find from this dental visit was that there was a great deal of new information and technology that I had been missing out on. Laser-based technology and digital imaging are just a few examples. With this blog, I want you to understand that you can get over your fears and learn about this new technology like I did, so enjoy the information.
If you currently have missing teeth or if you plan to have teeth pulled and you need an implant, you may actually want to find an implant surgeon prior to going to your dentist. The implant surgeon will be able to give you information on what a dental implant can and can't do for your smile. They will also be able to give you pertinent information that could save you money during the pre-surgical phase during your regular dental visits. Here are some questions to ask your dental surgeon during the planning phase.
Are bone grafts included in the price?
When you get a tooth pulled, you may need bone grafting in order to add a dental implant. If you do need grafting done, you should ask your dental surgeon if this process is included in the price. If the bone grafts are included in the price of the dental implant, it will be more price conscious for you to allow the dental surgeon to perform this. If you can skip bone grafting during the tooth extraction phase, the price of a tooth pulling is much lower.
Can you get a mold taken of your mouth?
One of the processes that must take place during the dental implant phase is getting a crown that fits your tooth. If you have not yet had your teeth pulled, you should get a mold taken at your dental surgeon's office if possible. This will allow your dental surgeon to have a complete composite of your mouth and know the appropriate dimensions of any crown that needs to go into your mouth. If the teeth are already missing, your dental surgeon can inspect your mouth before your teeth shift any further to determine where the teeth should sit in the gums.
Determine what works better as an extraction and a root canal
If there are teeth that appear to be in good condition, your dental surgeon may be willing to apply a crown to these teeth instead of having you get the tooth extraction and dental implant. Have your oral surgeon determine which teeth appear to be in good condition and can be saved by a regular crown. This will give you a complete game plan before you visit your regular dentist. Since you must wait for a number of months after dental work and extractions, having a complete plan of action will speed up your recovery and your dental implant process.
Talk to a dentist, like George N. Bryan Jr, DDS, PA, for more help.
Share4 April 2017