A dental implant offers patients the opportunity to have a full set of functional teeth even if one or more teeth have been lost. Since an implant is a prosthetic replacement for a natural tooth root, an implant-based restoration does not simply rest at the gum line. Instead, the implant is placed inside the jawbone, where a natural dental root resides. 

After an implant has been inserted into the bone, the wound from the placement of the device begins to heal. Bone cells grow around the dental implant, filling the minute space between the implant and the jawbone. As the bone cells fill all of the available gaps, the implant integrates with the jawbone. At the end of this healing process, which is called osseointegration, the dental implant is secure in the bone and able to withstand the same amount of bite pressure as a natural tooth root. 

If you have lost a tooth and are having it replaced with a dental implant, you may not know what to expect from the process. Here are a few things your dentist may advise you of when it comes to dental implant services.

You Still Need to Brush and Floss

Since a dental implant is not made of living tooth material, the device cannot decay. Thus, a dental patient may believe that brushing and flossing are unimportant. However, even though an implant cannot develop cavities, the tissues around an implant can still be negatively impacted by plaque and oral bacteria. 

When the gums around a dental implant become inflamed by oral microbes and the acids that they release, a condition called peri-implantitis may develop. This condition, which is a type of gum disease, can prevent an implant wound from healing properly.  Brushing and flossing the area around a dental implant can keep the gums free of inflammation-causing plaque.

Your Gums Will Be Contoured

The placement of the implant alone is not the only component of the restoration process. To ensure that the gums around an implant look as natural as possible, the tissues are contoured around the device. The contouring allows the gingival tissues to curve around the implant as they would a normal tooth.

After the gums undergo the contouring procedure, they are allowed to heal before a connector and a dental crown are added to finish the restoration. 

To learn more about dental implants, schedule an appointment with a dentist in your local area.