Missing teeth can do more than affect personality; your confidence, bite strength, and speech as well as long term oral health can be affected. That is why dental implants are gaining popularity among people today as one of the permanent remedies of replacing the tooth. In case you want to have implants, knowing about the dental implant procedure will make you feel confident during the entire process.
Let’s jump into this guide! Here we have explained what dental implants are, the process, the duration of treatment, and the expectation of the patients in each of the stages.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are artificial tooth roots commonly manufactured of titanium, which are surgically implanted in the jawbone. After the implant has been fixed and the bone has grown around it, it provides a firm base of a custom crown, bridge, or denture.
Dental implants:
- It looks like natural teeth.
- Prevents bone loss.
- Last decades with appropriate care.
- Enable you to eat, talk, and smile naturally.
- Do not slip or fall out as removable denture.
If you have lost several teeth or all your teeth, Full mouth dental implants can assist you in restoring and maintaining a stable and beautiful restoration using more than one implant.
Dental Implants Procedure: What to Expect!
Step 1- Dental Implant Consultation
Dental implants procedure always has to start with a dental implant consultation. This is a very important appointment where dentist checks:
- Gum and oral health
- Bone strength and density
- Bite alignment
- Lifestyle and medical history
- Restoration needs
- Budget and expectations
- In some cases, bone grafting may require.
Step 2: Preparatory Procedures (Where necessary)
Implants are not for everyone. There are patients who require preparatory treatment before the surgery to ensure long-term success.
So, do you need bone grafting?
In case the broken or failing tooth is still there, it might require it to be removed first. There are occasions when the implants may be installed immediately after extraction but in many cases, they need rest period.
Although, this process makes the treatment take a long period with bone grafting, there is an increased success in the long-term. It normally requires a number of months to heal before the implant can be inserted into the area grafted.
Step 3: Surgery on Dental Implants
After the mouth is ready, the patient proceeds to the surgery of the dental implants. This process is commonly considered to be very serious but, in most cases, it is a lot easier and more relaxed than it was thought to be.
How the surgery works:
- Numbing the gums to reach the jaw area.
- Make a tiny incision in the gum.
- Creating a precise gap in the bone
- Inserting the titanium implant.
- Closing the gum using sutures
It usually takes about an hour to do one dental implant but full mouth dental implants might take more time.
Step 4: Healing and Osseointegration
After the implant is installed, the most significant part of the treatment process, i.e., the process of the integrated implants into your body, starts. This involves a biological procedure of fusing the jawbone closely to the implant holding it in place as an ordinary tooth root.
Dental implant healing time
The time taken to heal is different based on the health of the bone, the number of implants, and grafting was carried out or not.
On average: In the absence of bone grafting: 34 months.
With bone grafting: 4–9 months
At this stage, patients are normally able to eat and talk comfortably and most dentists offer temporary teeth so that they look good. It is known as Osseointegration that makes implants unmatched in their strength, stability, and longevity.
Step 5: Placing the Abutment
Once healed, an abutment, a small connector is attached to the implant. It acts as a pillar that retains the final crown, bridge or denture. It is a fast, low-invasive, and in most instances, it does not need any downtime.
Step 6: Final Tooth Position- The Smile Moment
It is the final stage and your new tooth is born. To design a crown your dentist takes impressions or digital scans so that:
- Brings out the natural tooth color.
- Ensured a good fit in your bite.
- Appears natural and smooth.
The implants are like your natural teeth. Therefore, you can mile, eat and talk with all the confidence of a natural tooth.
How long does the Dental Implant Process take?
The process may take up to 3 to 9 months; however, the average time taken by most patients is 3 months. Some of the factors that may affect the schedule include:
- Bone quality
- Indication of required bone grafting
- Number of implants
- Healing speed
- Complexity of the case
Some patients may have the teeth in a day or same-day options, particularly to those being given full mouth dental implants but not all patients may qualify.
Frequently Asked Questions of the Dental Implants Procedure
Do you need bone grafting in dental implant?
Not always. It is required only in case the jawbone is not strong and dense. Many patients can directly go to the implant placement. Nevertheless, grafting ensures high long-term success in the event of the need.
What is the process of osseointegration in the dental implants?
It is a process known as osseointegration whereby the jawbone encloses and attaches itself to the implant. This makes implants firm, secure and long-lasting.
Is dental implantation a painful treatment?
Most of the patients report minimal discomfort. Local anesthesia ensures that one does not experience the pain and post-operative pain does not take very long; no more than two days. A lot of the patients have observed that the operation is not painful as removing a tooth.
Is it possible to have dental implants within a day?
Yes, for select cases. Some patients can be given same-day load or implants immediately after surgery, in which they are given temporary teeth. The eligibility however is based on the health of the bones, stability of the implants and the general complexity of the case.
Conclusion
Dental implants process is one of the most fulfilling in the current dentistry. Since consultation to the ultimate crown placement, the process is thoroughly planned so as to restore the functionality, health, and beauty to your smile.
Although it may be a single implant or a full mouth dental implants, our professional methods make the treatment procedure comfortable, predictable, and durable. Implants may be used to last a lifetime with proper care and recovery, and with the help of them, you can smile at the world, munch your food, and live without any restrictions.
Ready to begin your journey? Schedule visit to a trusted dentist and begin the procedure of having the smile you want.
