Today I traded a lot of money for the first step in getting that molar replaced. I decided I did not want to live without it. Not having it put a big dent in the places I could chew.
First off, they took a new x-ray, and where I've pointed the yellow arrow shows where the bone regrew after the extraction and procedure to help the bone grow. They were very happy.
Basically, they drill a hole in the bone and screw in a post. There are animated videos on youtube if you just want the basics, but I found one of the whole, for real, process. Considering how invasive this is, I feel pretty good.
The post has a cover on it to protect it until this part of the whole project heals up- maybe another two months. Then my regular dentist will put a tooth on the post.
The funniest part? They screw the post in with a little ratchet set just like a mechanic working on your car!
I've circled the little dark round thing behind the two well-filled teeth. That's the cover. It will also serve to keep the gum from growing all around the post while the bone heals. So this is called the implant, and the fake tooth is called a crown when they do that.
The scouting? Buddy Bill may have an implant done and this way he can hear my advance scouting report before he has to commit.
I left home early enough to get in a hike on the way to the dentist. I'll show you that and report the miles tomorrow.
My brain is a little foggy, so I haven't tried to do anything this afternoon that took a lot of mental power, but I sort of puttered at a project. The jaw and tooth area isn't very sore at all. This dental surgeon is very good- same one as last time. I did make some cream of mushroom soup for dinner, and had a little ice cream. I'm supposed to skip hard crunchy things for a while.
 | See How Did Things Go at the Dentist? |
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