A dental implant is a titanium or zirconia post that is surgically placed directly into the jawbone and acts as an artificial tooth root. Dental implants can support an individual crown, a multiple tooth bridge, or even a full denture on one or both arches.
If your dentist thinks you are a candidate for a dental implant, they will refer you to an oral surgeon or periodontist for further evaluation. If the specialist agrees that you are a candidate, they will be the doctor to actually place the implant. Your dentist will place the implant restoration, be it a crown or full denture, once the specialist has cleared you for restoration.
What is the dental implant procedure?
The specialist will likely take an additional x-ray of the area to be treated so they can properly analyze the bone structure to ensure that it is sufficient. If you do not have enough bone structure, you may need a bone graft placed first. Other preparatory surgeries you may need include a sinus left and a gum graft. If you need one of these surgeries, there will be 3 to 6 months of healing time before your implant can be placed. In some cases, the implant can be placed along with the bone graft at the doctor's discretion, not everyone is a good candidate for immediate placement.
You may be under general anesthesia for preparatory surgeries and implant placement surgeries so it is important for your doctor to have a complete current medical history including any and all medications.
For implant placement surgery, the doctor will make an incision in the gum tissue and drill a small hole into the jaw bone. A titanium implant will be placed directly into the jaw bone and a healing cap will be secured onto the implant to protect it from infection and damage. Your dentist will fabricate a temporary dental appliance to give you the appearance of a tooth while you heal which will be set by your implant doctor. Healing time for an implant can be up to six months to ensure that the implant is fully integrated with the jaw bone before restoration. This fusion is called osseointegration.
After the necessary healing time, your implant doctor will evaluate the implant and notify your dentist that you are ready for your implant restoration! At this point in the process, your dentist will take over! They will have you in for 2 to 3 visits to complete the restoration.
At the first visit, your dentist will take an impression of your mouth and use that impression to pour up a model to send to the dental lab that will fabricate your implant crown. It will take about two weeks for the dental lab to create your new tooth and when your dentist receives your case back from the lab, they will bring you back to the office to try in the restoration. If it fits, your dentist will permanently secure it in place with either cement or an implant screw. If it does not fit perfectly, they will send it back to the lab for the necessary adjustments.
Dental implants support bone health and are the overall better option for patients who need to replace one or more missing teeth. If you are interested in dental implants, speak with your dentist to see if you are a candidate.
