What Does a Dental Implant Procedure Involve?
As with any surgical procedure, the length of a dental implant procedure, and the number of visits required, varies from person to person. This is often because implanted teeth and surrounding areas can heal at different rates for each person and usually takes between 3-12 months, depending on the bone support required.
However long the whole process takes, there are standard steps that each patient will move through.
1. Treatment Preparation:
X-rays of the mouth are taken to check the health of the teeth and decide if any additional bone grafting or sinus lift treatments are required.
2. Bone grafting:
If there’s insufficient natural jawbone density in the area of the planned implant, your dentist will add either natural or synthetic bone material to support the implant.
3. Implantation:
A particular dental drill is used to create the room for the dental implant. The implant is then installed into the jawbone, closing the gums.
4. Healing:
Osseointegration, the process in which the implant integrates and becomes a part of the jawbone — takes about 4-6 months. This is usually called the healing period.
5. Final restoration:
The abutment is connected to the implant when the gum tissues are completely healed. Impressions of the mouth are taken using a CAD/CAM system to create a crown, and once the custom-made crown is prepared, it’s placed on top of the abutment.
6. Aftercare:
Some minor bruises and swelling in the gum tissues may arise following a dental implant procedure. A good brushing practice and routine (every 6-12 months) check-ups with your dentist are crucial for sustaining the health and stability of your dental implant.
What Should I Expect After My Dental Implant Procedure?
Once your dental implant surgery is done, after 4-6 months post-implantation, you should begin seeing the benefits of the procedure.
• Confidence in smiling, eating, and talking: Stylish, natural-looking dental crowns and implants are created to match the color and shape of natural teeth. This should let you eat, talk, and smile more confidently than earlier.
• Your jawbones will get stronger: Dental implants stimulate the growth of the jawbone during osseointegration, making the area stronger and healthier.
• Good dental hygiene: Unlike movable dentures, a tooth implant is stable and fixed to the jawbone, and with proper oral hygiene, they are a durable and long-lasting solution.
Dental Implant Procedure: Restoring Multiple Lost Teeth
Dental implants can be performed to restore a single tooth or an entire row of teeth. If your gum tissues are healthy and you have enough bone in your jaw, your dentist may advise you to have multiple dental implants fitted. There are various treatment options for people who require this.
All-On-4 Dental Implants
The all-on-4 implant procedure involves a full-arch restoration where four implants support all the teeth implants. It starts by placing the four implants (which will hold 10-14 custom-made crowns) in the maxilla, the mandible, or both.
All-On-6 Dental Implants
Comparable to the All-On-4 implant system, the All-On-6 implant technique involves positioning six dental implants in the upper or lower jawbone to hold 10-14 custom-made crowns.
All-On-4 and All-On-6 implant systems are suggested for people suffering from significant tooth decay or loss or those with a low jawbone density in the jaw area, preventing them from getting separate tooth implants.