Home News & Blog Dental Implants Procedure — Discover What’s Involved in the Treatment

Dental Implants Procedure — Discover What’s Involved in the Treatment

21st September 2022

Dental implants are a popular and effective way to replace missing teeth. The procedure involves placing a titanium post in the jawbone, which serves as a new root for the tooth. A custom-made tooth is then attached to the implant post. If it sounds pretty complex, that’s because it is. So, read on if you want to know what happens in the dental implants procedure.

What Exactly is a Dental Implant?

If you lose a tooth or several teeth, your dentist may recommend dental implants. They are an excellent way to replace missing teeth and provide a long-term solution for your oral health. But what exactly are dental implants?

They are tiny titanium posts surgically placed into the jawbone. Once the implants are in place, they fuse with the jawbone and provide a sturdy base for artificial teeth. Dental implants support a single tooth, a dental bridge, or a complete set of dentures.

What’s Involved in the Dental Implants Procedure?

The entire dental implant procedure can take several months, but it is relatively straightforward. The process can be broken down into three stages: planning, implant surgery, and attaching an artificial tooth (or teeth).

1. Consultation & Planning

The dental implant procedure is renowned for having a high success rate. This is partly due to the extensive planning process where the dentist determines whether a patient is an ideal candidate for the procedure.

expectation teeth implant sydney

At the initial consultation, the dentist will talk about your medical history, as certain medical conditions may make it more difficult for dental implants to be placed successfully. During this appointment, the dentist will assess the condition of your mouth, teeth and jawbone. This is particularly important as the jawbone needs enough healthy bone to hold dental implants. Scans and tests may be undertaken to provide a clearer picture of the jawbone’s health.

If the dentist determines you are a good candidate for the dental implant procedure, impressions are made of your mouth. These are sent to a laboratory where your new artificial teeth are tailor-made to fit. At this point, a date for your dental implant surgery is scheduled.

2. Implant Surgery

The surgery is performed under a local anaesthetic in your dentist’s office and is typically the stage of the dental implants procedure that most people dread. However, if you are of a nervous disposition, conscious sedation may be an additional measure offered to you to help you relax during the surgery.

The surgery lasts between one to two hours per implant. Once the anaesthesia has been administered and your mouth is numb, the surgery begins with a small incision in the gum where the implant is to be inserted. A small flap is made in the gum so the dentist can access the jawbone. A hole is drilled in the bone, and the implant is placed in situ. The gum flap is moved back and sutured to cover the dental implant.

The area is left to heal for around four months (although sometimes it can take longer) while osseointegration occurs. This is when the jawbone and implant fuse, forming a stable and firm base onto which an artificial tooth can be attached securely.

3. Attachment of Artificial Tooth

After the requisite time has passed, you will return to your dentist’s office to complete the final stage of the dental implant procedure with the attachment of an artificial tooth. This simple process takes around half an hour and involves exposing the implant by opening the gum and attaching the artificial tooth to the dental implant.

Who is Suitable for the Dental Implants Procedure?

The dental implant procedure is suitable for many people. However, some circumstances may prove problematic for a successful outcome because of lifestyle factors or chronic medical conditions.

Smokers

If you smoke, you are not considered a good candidate for dental implants. Some dentists will not perform the procedure on smokers because there is a much higher failure rate than for non-smokers.

involvement tooth implant sydney The toxins in cigarettes constrict blood vessels which diminishes blood flow. As blood transports nutrients around the body to help heal tissue and fight infection, there is a risk of infection after surgery and slower healing times, which can also increase the risk of infection in dental implants.

From a longer-term perspective, gum disease is more prevalent in smokers, and they tend to have more significant plaque build-up, which contributes to gum disease. Gum disease destroys healthy tissue surrounding the teeth, and a similar condition—peri-implantitis—affects the healthy tissue around implants. This can ultimately lead to infection and failure of a dental implant procedure.

Chronic Medical Conditions

Chronic medical conditions may affect dental implants. However, each case is assessed on its own merits, and just because you have a chronic disease does not mean you cannot have a dental implant procedure—the situation may just need close monitoring by your dentist and specialist.

Uncontrolled blood sugars in people with diabetes can hamper healing, leading to infection after dental implant surgery. Additionally, diabetes impedes saliva production, which is essential for removing harmful bacteria from the mouth. It means that people with diabetes risk gum disease, which can be devastating for dental implants.

Heart disease, osteoporosis and autoimmune diseases are other chronic conditions that can affect the outcome of a dental implant procedure.

Dental Implants – The Takeaway

Dental implants are one of the best methods of replacing missing teeth. However, do bear in mind there are factors governing the success of all dental implants procedures. Schedule an appointment or call us on (02) 8007 6727 to find out more.

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