If you are considering dental implants as a way to restore one or more missing tooth gaps then it’s understandable that you would want to know the answer to the question ‘how are dental implants put in the mouth?’
In this post, we’ll take a look at the dental implant surgery itself, and what it entails but before we do that, it’s worth taking a closer look at what dental implants are.
Implants are in fact artificial tooth roots that are placed or ‘implanted’ into the jaw bone at the missing tooth site. Over time they fuse with the remaining bone tissue to create a solid foundation upon which to place a dental crown, a bridging tooth or act as part of a network of dental implants supporting an entire arch of teeth. But how are dental implants actually put in the mouth?
The short answer is through precise dental implant surgery but what does it entail?
It’s worth remembering that dental implant surgery is only a small part of the entire dental implant procedure. Most of the work is carried out beforehand during the planning stages of your treatment.
The preparation
It’s important to remember that dental implants require an anchor in the mouth to support them and that anchor is the jaw bone. The problem is that in some instances, there is insufficient jaw bone or a lack of quality bone to place the implant into. This is why all dental implants patients undergo a series of x-rays and scans to see whether they do indeed have sufficient bone and bone quality.
If not, then the patient will need to undergo a bone grafting process. This involves either taking particles of bone from other parts of the body (usually the roof of the mouth) or utilising artificial (man-made) tissue and grafting it onto existing bone at the missing tooth site.
Either way, the new bone will bond with any existing bone to create a strong and healthy bone mass. As a result, even those who have lost bone through long-term tooth loss may well be a good candidate for dental implants. That’s the good news…
The bad news is that bone grafting is a time-consuming process often taking 3-4 months for the reconstituted bone to fully stabilise sufficiently to place a dental implant into it. This adds time and cost to any dental implant procedure.
The same can be said for sinus lifting…
On some occasions, when the bone is limited in the upper jaw it may mean that your sinus cavities become situated too close to the jaw. As a result, when dental implants are placed, they may perforate the sinus cavity causing problems. A sinus augmentation lifts a small section or circle of the bone into the sinus cavity and the area underneath is back-filled with bone grafting material thus creating a modified space to insert the implant into.
Again, just like bone grafting of the lower jaw, it can take a similar amount of time (3-4 months) for the area to stabilise so the implant can be placed. On some occasions, dental implants are placed at the same time as sinus augmentation but this is a highly specialised procedure and isn’t recommended for all patients.
It’s worth pointing out that processes like bone grafting and sinus lifting are relatively routine surgeries that are carried out chair-side at the dental clinic. There is no need for hospital admission unless it’s seen as a complex case.
What happens after?
Let’s say that you now have sufficient healthy bone to place the implant into, the next stage is dental implant surgery. Let’s take a closer look at how dental implants are put in.
Typically, this the part that most people dread but the truth is that it’s an easy and comfortable process.
If a patient is undergoing computer-guided dental implant surgery then a small hole is drilled through the gum and into the bone to an exacting depth and trajectory. The implant is then inserted through the hole using surgical guides. Once in position, it’s then screwed into place. This computer-guided dental implant procedure can be completed in as little as 20 minutes.
Conversely, if a patient is undergoing conventional dental implants placement then the gum will need to be cut to expose the bone beneath. Next, a hole is drilled into the jawbone ensuring that the depth, positioning and trajectory are correct. The implant is inserted into the jawbone through the hole and screwed or fastened into the jawbone. This process should be equally as comfortable for the patient but may take a little longer – typically up to one hour to complete.
After both procedures, it takes somewhere between 3- 6 months for an implant to fully stabilise in the jaw. Only when the implant has fused with the bone tissue and remains stable in the mouth can the connecting abutment and dental crown be secured to complete the smile.
So now you know how dental implants are put in the mouth you can see that surgery is only a small part of the dental implant procedure. Despite the time needed to complete the treatment, the results for most people are long-lasting and life-changing.
If you want to know more about how dental implants are placed or you are considering dental implants as a form of missing tooth replacement then come and talk to No Gaps Dental.
All of our 15 dental clinics are staffed by highly experienced dentists and dental teams who take your health and safety seriously. We take every precaution to protect patients including the frequent use of hand sanitiser. We ensure ample supplies of hand sanitiser for our patients when they visit and all staff are required to use hand sanitiser regularly to ensure against the spread of airborne diseases.
Book your smile consultation online or contact us today on (02) 8806 0227.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.