Dental implants have become a popular way of replacing missing teeth. Although expensive compared to other options, it’s not hard to understand why. But, if you are considering dental implant surgery, you may want to know just how are dental implants done? Here, we provide an overview, but you can find out more by scheduling a dental consultation near you.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that replace missing teeth in the upper or lower jaw. The human body naturally accepts titanium implants. When placed into the jawbone, a dental implant fuses with the bone, forming a solid base onto which an artificial tooth is mounted. Dental implants can be used with a dental crown, bridge or denture to replace one, several, or all of the teeth.
How Are Dental Implants Done? Step-By-Step
The dental implant procedure consists of multiple stages, with recovery and healing between each step and can take up to nine months or longer to complete, depending on a patient’s healing abilities. Dental implants are a complex treatment that requires extensive planning, dental implant surgery, and finally, the attachment of replacement teeth to finalise the procedure. If you are looking for a quick solution to missing teeth, you may want to consider alternative treatment options. Here is a summary of each step:
1. Consultation & Planning
It’s important to know that some people are not a good fit for dental implants. Those who smoke, have chronic conditions like diabetes or clotting disorders or have bone loss in the jaw could present a problem. However, having these conditions doesn’t necessarily exclude a person from having dental implants since each case is taken on its merits. It’s best to get a consultation at your local dental clinic for further advice.
During an initial consultation, the dentist will review your medical history and take X-rays and 3D scans to assess the condition of the mouth and jaw. If deemed suitable, impressions are taken of the teeth so that the artificial teeth can be made to fit the mouth perfectly.
2. Dental Implant Surgery
Implant surgery is performed under a local anaesthetic at the dental clinic. After making an incision in the gum, a small hole is drilled in the jawbone, and the implant is inserted. The gum is closed with sutures, covering the implant, which is left to heal and integrate with the bone. This takes a minimum of 2-4 months and is crucial to the success of the dental implant procedure, which is highly reliant on the integration process. Another minor surgery may be necessary to open the gums, expose the implant, and attach an abutment. This component connects the replacement teeth to the implant post and absorbs some of the bite force.
3. Final Restoration
When the mouth is fully healed and the implants are stable, the artificial tooth (crown) is attached to the implant. Typically this is around 3-4 months after dental implant surgery. However, if a patient has needed pre-treatments such as a bone graft or sinus lift, it may take considerably longer to complete the dental implant procedure.
How Are Dental Implants Done? – Find Out More About The Dental implant Procedure
Speak with a dentist that offers consultation appointments for dental implants. Contact us today on (02) 4325 5825.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
References
Implant Dentistry: The Effects of Cigarette Smoking on Dental Implants and Related Surgery
https://journals.lww.com/implantdent/fulltext/2005/12000/the_effect_of_cigarette_smoking_on_dental_implants.11.aspx
Br. Dental Journal: Dental Implants in Patients Affected by Systemic Diseases
https://www.nature.com/articles/sj.bdj.2014.911
Colgate: Bone Resorption: Why it happens and what to do next
https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/mouth-and-teeth-anatomy/bone-resorption-why-it-happens-and-what-to-do-next#
