Dental implant surgery is one of the most effective procedures for restoring the look and functionality of your teeth after you’ve experienced tooth loss. If you are considering a dental implant, knowing what to expect during the procedure can help alleviate any concerns you might have about getting treatment.
What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are small titanium or zirconium screw-shaped posts embedded into the jawbone during dental implant surgery. They are essentially artificial tooth roots, adding stability to your jaw and gums, which helps you regain your chewing and speaking capabilities.
Dental implants also prevent your remaining teeth from moving, which can cause further tooth loss and contribute to structural deterioration of the jawbone.
Custom crowns are fitted to dental implants, providing a healthy, functional, and attractive smile. At No Gaps Dental, we use Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics (CEREC) technology to create strong, high-quality, hypoallergenic same-day crowns. Using state-of-the-art dental technology, we ensure our custom-made crowns fit precisely and securely.
How Long Does a Dental Implant Procedure Take?
The steps of a dental implant procedure depend on several key factors, such as the number of dental implants you require, the condition of your jawbone, and your overall oral and general health.
For example, if you experience jawbone deterioration due to decay or injury, you may need a bone graft or sinus lift before undergoing dental implant surgery. The overall dental implant treatment will take longer and require more dental visits if you need extensive preparatory work. This is due to the healing time required between the grafting procedure and the implant placement, which can take 6-12 months.
After an initial consultation with No Gaps Dental, we can determine whether you’re a suitable candidate for dental implants and develop a treatment plan.
Why You Might Need Dental Implant Surgery?
The main role of implants is to restore the appearance and functionality of your teeth. They also offer other benefits, such as:
- Improved speech
- Improved chewing pressure
- Reduced discomfort from missing teeth or removable dentures
- Increased confidence and self-esteem
- Ease of maintenance
- Long-lasting results; implant posts last a lifetime, while dental restorations only need to be replaced every 15 to 20 years.
Are You a Suitable Candidate for Dental Implant Surgery?
The main criteria for determining a suitable dental implant candidate are:
- Your jawbone structure is strong and healthy enough to support dental implants
- If your jaw isn’t stable enough, you are willing to have a bone graft
- You do not have any signs of gum disease
- You maintain good oral hygiene, such as regular teeth brushing, flossing, and dental checkups
- You don’t want to wear dentures
- You can commit to several months of dental procedures
- You don’t smoke
No Gaps Dental’s Dental Implant: What to Expect?
At No Gaps Dental, we can provide dental implants for a single tooth, multiple consecutive teeth, a full arch of teeth, or an entire set of teeth.
We are proud to offer industry-leading, same-day crowns using advanced CEREC technology. Our durable crowns are milled from a single block of ceramic, giving them strength and durability. This process takes place onsite, enabling us to produce custom crowns in a matter of minutes.
Getting a Dental Implant: What to Expect from the Procedure?
The first step of the dental implant procedure is to evaluate your teeth, gums, and jawbone condition through a series of X-rays, 3D scans, and manual examinations. If your jaw is healthy enough, we can schedule your implant surgery immediately. However, if a bone graft, sinus lift or preparatory work are needed, these treatments must be completed before the implant is placed.
The next step is the surgical procedure, where we insert the titanium or zirconium implants. Patients are administered local anaesthesia, numbing the mouth and ensuring you experience no discomfort. We also offer IV sedation for anxious patients.
The dentist makes a small incision in the gum tissue to expose the bone. A tiny hole is drilled in the jaw, and the implant post is screwed in place. This incision is then sutured and the area packed with gauze.
Once the surgery is completed, you may be fitted with temporary crowns until your gums have healed.
As you heal, osseointegration occurs, where the jawbone strengthens and grows around the implant. This gives the implant stability, enabling it to function effectively as a replacement tooth root. Osseointegration typically takes 2-6 months. Regular dental visits allow us to monitor how well you’re healing and how osseointegration is progressing.
Once we are happy that your implants are stable and fully healed, we can schedule an appointment to fit your permanent crowns. We use CEREC technology to take accurate impressions of your teeth, gums, and jawbone. The images are sent to a software program from which a dentist can design a 3D model of your custom crown on-screen.
Your dentist will choose a block of ceramic that matches your natural tooth shade. The CEREC machine then fabricates the crown in approximately 15 minutes. Due to the precise design and fabrication processes, our custom crowns fit perfectly, minimising the risk of infection and restoring your natural smile.
Importance of Hygiene During the Dental Implant Procedure
We are meticulous about hygiene and strictly adhere to the ADA and international dental hygiene guidelines.
All 15 of our modern Sydney-based facilities are fitted with the latest sterilising equipment. Our team of experienced dental professionals understand the importance of dental hygiene and contribute to a safe and clean environment by regularly using hand sanitiser and following essential hygiene protocols according to the ADA’s “Five Moments of Hand Hygiene” principle. This involves applying hand sanitiser:
- Before patient contact
- Before a clean or aseptic procedure
- After potential body fluid exposure risk
- After patient contact
- After touching the patient surroundings
We also provide our patients with alcohol-based hand sanitiser in all our dental practice waiting rooms, ensuring cleanliness and giving you peace of mind.
Book a Consultation With No Gaps Dental
If you’re interested in restoring your smile with dental implants and CEREC crowns, book a consultation with No Gaps Dental, so we can explain in-depth the steps to get a dental implant and what to expect after surgery so you can determine if it’s the right procedure for you.
We have clinics located around Sydney for your convenience. We also offer several payment structures, allowing you to find an affordable tooth replacement that meets your needs, improving your oral health. Schedule an appointment online or call us at (02) 8806 0227.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks.