Australia. It’s where you go outside for fun. Whether you are catching a wave, out on a bike, on the rugby pitch or playing Aussie rules, Australia is a country with more ways to lose a front tooth than most countries. And if you get a tooth knocked out, you could end up looking for a dental implant in Melbourne.
Having a dental implant in Melbourne from clinics such as High Dental Implants means patients get to replace the entire tooth, including the root. Roots are there for a reason, to give teeth stability. Without roots, teeth can’t do their jobs properly, which is why people who have dentures have to give up more challenging foods such as nuts, steaks and toffees.
What to expect when you get a dental implant in Melbourne
With dental implants, you are looking at undergoing a minor surgery under local anaesthetic. It takes about 90 minutes to put in an implant. For nervous patients, that’s a very long time, which is why most implant surgeons also offer sedation. Sedation doesn’t numb pain but it does relax people. Usually there is a choice between oral or intravenous sedation. With the latter, it’s not unusual for patients to sleep through the whole procedure.
After surgery
These days, many people get same day teeth, which means that temporary crowns are put on their implants. They leave the dental clinic with no gaps, but they can’t use their new teeth to eat more than soft food until the permanent crowns are put on.
The mouth can be quite sore for a few days after surgery, but over-the-counter painkillers should be enough to numb the pain.
Osseointegration
This is the magic bit. It can take 2-6 months for the jawbone to fuse with the titanium implants. Only after osseointegration is complete can patients go on to eat whatever they like the look of. Do so before that and there’s a very real danger that the tooth implant will come loose and even fall out.
However, if the integration process is respected and good hygiene is maintained, there is no reason why a dental implant in Melbourne cannot last for decades. Some people even have them for life.