Over the past two decades, dental implants have grown in popularity. By 2026, somewhere between 5% and 23% of the population will have undergone an implant-based restoration. So if you are considering replacing a missing tooth with a dental implant, you’ll be in good company.
Despite the increasing number of people getting dental implants, many remain apprehensive about the procedure, so we’ll talk you through the process of dental implants and explain what you should and shouldn’t expect.
However, before we dive into the steps for undergoing a tooth implant, it’s important to note that there are two types of dental implant placement, traditional implant restorations and computer-guided (digital) implant placement. Both provide the same excellent results, but some steps or stages to get there differ. With this in mind, let’s dive into the nuts and bolts of getting dental implants.
Step #1 Consultation and planning
Successful dental implants rely heavily on detailed preparation and planning. So, if you are considering an implant-based restoration, it might be a good idea to attend a preliminary consultation. This may be with a treatment coordinator, or it may be with the dentist. Either way, an initial consultation allows you to consider all the options available and get any questions or concerns you have answered.
For the team to give you the best advice, they will also ask about your medical history and lifestyle choices.
If you decide to proceed with the treatment, the subsequent step is a full clinical consultation. During the consultation, the dentist will check your facial bone structure, perform a thorough oral examination and run a health check. They may also carry out a series of CT or CBCT scans to get an overall view of the mouth and the whereabouts of any anatomical structures, including the alveolar nerve and maxillary sinus.
Once all scans and checks are complete, your implant dentist will devise a personalised treatment plan that includes additional treatments, such as bone grafting or sinus lifting, treatment timescales, and the overall cost.
Once you’re happy with the process, you may again meet with the treatment coordinator to discuss payment plans or financing. You can also use this opportunity to get any questions or concerns answered about the dental implant process.
What to expect – Inevitably, what you can expect from a dental implant consultation is a thorough understanding of what’s involved, the treatment and the overall cost.
What not to expect – What you shouldn’t expect is that you are automatically a candidate. While most people should be able to have dental implants, certain factors like medical conditions or lifestyle choices may affect their candidacy.
Step #2 – dental implant surgery
This is the stage of the treatment that everybody dreads, yet in truth, they needn’t. Because much effort goes into surgical planning, the actual chairside placement of a dental implant is typically quick. While conventional implant treatment involves cutting the gum, exposing the bone underneath, drilling a pilot hole into the jaw and placing the implant into it, treatment usually takes less than one hour.
Alternatively, surgery is generally quicker with computer-guided dental implants because the pilot hole is made through the gum directly into the bone. As a result, there is no need to cut the gum, and an implant can be safely inserted in as little as twenty minutes. Depending on the implant site, your dentist may also fit you with a temporary restoration.
During either of these processes, getting dental implants remains a comfortable experience, with most people being surprised at how quickly and smoothly the process has gone. And, because implant surgery is carried out under a local anaesthetic or conscious sedation, patients should feel little or no discomfort.
What to expect – A comfortable chairside experience
What not to expect – A lengthy and painful process
Step #3 – Recovery and osseointegration
The next part of the process of dental implants is an important one – The recovery phase and osseointegration.
When computer-guided methods are adopted, post-surgical recovery is relatively quick – often just a few days. Because the gum is not cut, there is no need for sutures, and therefore, patients typically experience less swelling.
Even when conventional methods are used, the post-recovery phase for a dental implant is usually comfortable. Any swelling should be controlled with hot and cold compresses, and any discomfort can be eased using over-the-counter medications like Ibuprofen, Paracetamol or Aspirin.
Most people return to normal activities within one week to ten days. You may, however, need to avoid particularly chewy or sticky foods for longer.
Osseointegration, otherwise known as bone fusion, is perhaps the crucial part of the process of dental implants. Without it, a dental implant will fail. Osseointegration occurs naturally when the remaining bone tissue around the implant site fuses with the implant. This creates a solid structure as the implant becomes part of the mouth.
In most cases, bone fusion occurs within 3-4 months, but it can take up to nine months to complete. Either way, osseointegration is a pain-free process; during this time, patients can carry out their everyday activities.
What to expect – A relatively trouble-free recovery
What not to expect – severe discomfort that cannot be brought under control using over-the-counter medications.
Step #4 – Fitting the final restoration
The final stage of the process of getting dental implants is fitting the permanent restoration. An abutment may first be secured to the dental implant, which connects the permanent crown to the implant. The gum may need to be cut and the implant exposed with conventional methods, which may involve a short surgical process.
Alternatively, computer-guided methods typically maintain the placement of a healing abutment at the time of implant placement, so no surgery is necessary. Either way, once the abutment is in position, any temporaries are discarded, and the permanent restoration is bonded into place. The final thing to do is to check for bite and aesthetics.
What to expect – A quick and comfortable process with a lifelike restoration
What not to expect – a lengthy chairside treatment.
As you can see, the process of dental implants doesn’t happen overnight, but the results are a long-lasting restoration that restores bite functionality and near-perfect aesthetics.
If you would like to find out more about any aspect of getting dental implants or how equipped our clinics are to perform such a treatment, contact No Gaps Dental for a consultation.
Across our 15 locations, we take your health and safety very seriously and take all protective measures, including hand sanitiser, to keep you safe. We use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser containing either Ethanol or Isopropanol as our preferred choice for hand hygiene. Moreover, all our hand sanitiser products are TGA approved for rapid disinfection and hand cleansing.
Are you ready for a new and long-lasting smile? Get in touch today! Call us on (02) 8007 6727 to schedule an appointment.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
References
Journal of Dental Research – Trends In Dental Implant Use – 1996 – 2016 And Projections to 2026
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6854267/#:~:text=There%20has%20been%20a%20large,55%20to%2064%20y%20old
NCBI – Clinical Advantages Of Computer-Guided Implant Placement – A Systematic Review
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23062137
Click4Teeth – What Is Dental Implant Osseointegration?
https://www.click4teeth.com/feature-articles/what-is-dental-implant-osseointegration/#:~:text=During%20the%20placement%20of%20an,surface%20to%20grip%20it%20securely