New Procedures Which Can Reduce Dental Implant Recovery Times

Dental implants offer many patients a more permanent solution for missing or severely damaged teeth, but the surgery required and the recovery time can turn many patients off of this treatment. However, more recent developments have helped to reduce the recovery time and minimize the extent of surgery necessary. For patients considering implant surgery, it's a good idea to discuss these options with your implant specialist and find out if you're a good candidate. 

Implantation in Recent Extraction Sites

Older methods used for dental implant surgery normally require that extraction sites fully heal before an implant is placed. More recently developed procedures have actually shown that, by implanting in new extraction sites, the implant itself will integrate more quickly, and will not require a separate recovery period before it is viable. A study published in 2011 showed that the success rate for patients whose implants were placed in fresh extraction sites was between 93.9 and 100%.

While the same study also points out that implant procedures, in general, have a better than 90% success rate, the benefit to the patient is a reduced waiting period of 4-8 weeks. Further, the implants and extractions can be addressed during the same surgery, cutting down total surgical time and saving money overall. There are limiting factors, such as bone density and the orientation of sinus cavities within your jaw or skull, but this doesn't make it less important to speak to the dentist doing the procedure about the option.

Mini Implant Options

For those living with a dental prosthesis already, having a way to stabilize a bridge, partial or full arch denture is an ideal solution. Mini dental implants offer a way for patients to have the stability of an implant that integrates their existing prosthesis. While not ideal for single tooth replacements, miniature dental implants can greatly improve the quality of life for patients already wearing a denture.

Like the name implies, mini implants are smaller and thus have less stringent requirements on bone density, often allowing quick placement and same-day use. The FDA has even approved them for denture stabilization in as little as an hour. Use caution, though, as dentists offering mini implants should have at least 300 hours of post-doctoral training in the procedure before offering it.

Advances in implant dentistry are still happening, and new studies are being completed on a regular basis. If you've been on the fence about using implant dentistry to address your dental problems, it's worth your time to start asking questions of dental professionals (such as those from Michels & Gauquie Cosmetic and Family Dentistry) in the field.