How Are Dental Implants Done? A Quick Implant Guide

If you have a missing tooth or teeth, dental implants can improve your quality of life, complete your smile, and renew your confidence. But how are dental implants done?

Let us help shed some light on the subject with this step-by-step guide that explains the timeline from the beginning until the end of your dental implant surgery and everything else in between.

How Are Dental Implants Done?

Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that are surgically embedded into the jawbone. The implant system is composed of the implant post, an abutment, and the artificial tooth attachment. So the entire process revolves around dental implant surgery – abutment placement – crown restoration.

Evaluation For Dental Implants

First, your dentist will determine if you are a suitable candidate for dental implants. Your teeth, gums, and jawbone will be evaluated using a digital X-ray and CBCT scan. Some patients can be rejected for the dental implant procedure if they do not meet standard requirements such as:

• Healthy oral tissues
• Good oral health
• Absence of bone disorders
• Adequate jawbone height

If the jawbone’s height, width, and depth are insufficient to accommodate the dental implants, your dentist may recommend a bone graft procedure.

Pre-planning

Next is planning the dental implant procedure. Dental implants can be a replacement for a single missing tooth or a series of missing teeth. If you need multiple teeth replacement, meticulous implant placement planning is vital for the treatment’s success.

Each dental implant will be surgically fixed into strategic areas of the jawbone to serve as a good foundation for a dental bridge or full denture restoration. At Beyond 32 Dental, we use digital dental implant treatment to map out the best implant position for the most favourable outcome.

Dental Implant Surgery

First, your mouth will be numbed with local anaesthesia. Once the area is numb, your dentist will open a flap on your gums and drill a hole in the bone using a computer guide to place the dental implants. Digital dental implants offer greater precision and accuracy, making for faster, safer, and more comfortable dental implant surgery.

How dental implants are done sounds scary and complicated. But because we utilise good planning and modern technology, surgery is painless and straightforward.

Bone Growth and Healing

After dental implant surgery, some time is needed for the bone to fuse around the implant in a process called Osseointegration. This should take around 3 to 6 months. Dental implants are made from biocompatible titanium, which means that the body will not reject them except for rare cases.

However, implant “reject” is still possible if you fail to follow your dentist’s recovery guidelines after a dental implant procedure. This is also why evaluation is critical because oral and jawbone health will largely determine the implant’s success.

Abutment Placement

Once the dental implants are fully healed, your dentist will open the gum again. But this time, it is to place an abutment to link the titanium post with the permanent restoration.

Then, they will close the gum again and allow it to recover for about 1 – 2 weeks before your restoration is attached.

Permanent Restoration

Depending on how many teeth need replacement, your dentist may opt for a single implant and dental crown or utilise several implants to support a dental bridge or partial or complete denture. The ultimate goals of the dental implant procedure are to:

• fully restore the smile
• restore normal functions such as chewing and eating
• enhance your appearance
• support facial muscles for a youthful glow
• boost your self-esteem
• promote better oral and general health

Dental Implants: The Takeaway

The entire dental implant procedure is a long journey that takes 3 – 9 months to complete. But, it delivers beneficial results with a beautiful and permanent smile.

Dental implants are taken care of the same way you do your natural teeth. Practise good oral hygiene and visit your dentist for regular upkeep. The dental implant posts can last many years or even a lifetime if well maintained. However, the restoration will likely need replacement after 10 -15 years to keep it functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Your ‘Forever’ Smile with Dental Implants

Now you know how dental implants are done, it’s time to book your appointment! Beyond 32 Dental offers a free implant consultation and CBCT scan to get you started on your dental implant procedure. To find out if you’re a suitable candidate for dental implants, call us at (02) 9158 6334, and our friendly staff will do their best to accommodate you.

Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

References

Fda.gov – Dental Cone-beam Computed Tomography
https://www.fda.gov/radiation-emitting-products/medical-x-ray-imaging/dental-cone-beam-computed-tomography

Healthline.com – What You Need to Know About a Dental Bone Graft
https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-bone-graft

Pubmed – Digital technologies for dental implant treatment planning and guided surgery
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25951962/

NIH – Osseointegration
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4439679/

Healthline.com – Are Dental Implants Permanent?
https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-oral-health/how-long-do-dental-implants-last