Not a lot of people know about the dental implant process but may want to as the popularity arises. To put it simply, the dental implant procedure involves placing a titanium implant into the jaw and attaching a ceramic crown. Once the jawbone has fused to the implant, creating a root like structure, as a natural tooth does, the implant is secured into place.
The methods of achieving the outcome are varied, according to the condition of the implant site. The fastest procedure is done in a single day and can be performed if a tooth is replaced in a healthy gum over good bone.
The most complicated dental implant procedure occurs if the bone structure is not strong enough to take an implant, or if there simply isn’t enough bone. It is more common to not have enough bone in the upper jaw, below the sinuses. In these cases, a bone graft may be required. If bone grafting is necessary, your dental implant procedure will take up to six months.
If a tooth has been broken or is decayed and needs to be removed, as long as the surrounding gum is not damaged, the replacement may be installed on the same day as the damaged tooth is extracted. It will include a temporary crown which can be replaced with a permanent crown 3-6 months later, once the bone fusion has taken place.
An ‘ordinary’ implant takes place in stages.
- At the first treatment, the implant is installed into the jawbone and left to fuse for 3-6 months.
- After this time, a post, called an abutment, is placed in the implant.
- Casts are then taken of the teeth and a crown made to match the existing teeth which is cemented onto the abutment.
If you think that a dental implant procedure is what you’re in need of, schedule a consultation with your dentist. They will be able to inform you on the process and which procedure is best for you. During the consultation, your dentist may also let you know if they will be the one to preform the procedure, or if you will need to be referred to a periodontist. Your dentist will have a recommendation for a trusted periodontist, if that is the case.