Implant Process

Teeth implants are a revolutionary cosmetic procedure that can replace missing teeth with natural-looking, durable replicas. It’s not as simple an operation as having a denture fitted, but it’s well worth it for the results. If you haven’t heard of dental implants before, you can read on for more information about the implanting process, there is a strong surgical element to the procedure, but it is one of the most impressive dental techniques available today. It takes a skilled surgeon to properly implant and fit the new teeth, and the number of dentists signing up for training in this area is increasing month on month.

What is involved in the implanting process?

The first step will be to assess whether you jaw bone has the necessary fortitude to support the implants, if the teeth have been absent for too long, the bone may have started to break down. Your dentist may decide that a bone graft is needed to extent the width and strength of your jaw, implanting new teeth into a brittle, weak bone will mean they don’t last very long.

After the jaw has been properly prepared for surgery, the implant procedure can begin. Your surgeon will make a small incision in the gum line, cutting right through to the bone. The implants have to bond with the jaw in order to function correctly; just attaching them to the gums won’t hold them solidly in place. Using a series of drill bits, your dentist will then create a hole in the bone, where the titanium rod will be attached. This is a tricky part of the operation and requires a steady hand, if the hole is too big the implant will appear loose, if it is too small, it won’t fit. Fortunately, there are a good number of specially designed tools for this job, which allow the surgeon to monitor the orientation of the hole carefully throughout. Using an alignment pin, they can check that the size and depth of the hole is correct and would support the implant at the right angle. Don’t worry, you will be completely anaesthetised during this process, probably with local anaesthetic, but some sedation may be necessary if you are a particularly anxious patient.

When the drilling portion has been completed, the implant can be placed into the jaw. The method used to introduce the implant depends on what sort it is, some are manufactured with a screw thread already ingrained, so that all the dentist has to do is tap them into place, whilst others are smooth and require a screw tap to create the groove for them. Some surgeons might use a special machine to slowly screw the implant in, but lots of dentists have been trained to use hand tools to do the job, this allows them to get a feel for the positioning more accurately. Either way, the result is that the titanium rod is fixed into the hole, with a small portion protruding from the gums. A small cap is then attached to the exposed length of the implant, to protect it from the environment in the mouth, it’s vital to seal off the area to prevent infection.

With the implant firmly in place, the gums need to be sewn up around it; stitches are usually left in place for several months, while the healing process gets underway. It takes around six months for the implant to become strong enough to support a synthetic crown, the rod has to bond with the various tissues and grow solid before it can be used for chewing and biting – so you will be on soft foods for a while before you get your new teeth. Occasionally, a patient will be suitable for immediate implantation, but most dentists prefer to give the gums a chance to heal before fitting the crowns. After the six month period has passed, you should be ready for the permanent restorations to be fixed in place.

How long does it take for teeth implants to be fitted?

This can vary a great deal, different people have different healing capabilities, and if you required a bone graft to begin with it the whole process will take longer. The implanting operation itself can take several hours, but that can also vary a lot, depending on how many teeth have to be replaced. It’s not uncommon for patients to have numerous teeth implanted in one sitting, but this would of course extend the surgery time. Some dentists prefer to stagger the procedures so that the gums aren’t undergoing too much trauma at once, but one or two shouldn’t cause too much damage.

The healing period can be between three and six months, and it’s important that during this time you stay away from contact sports or eating hard food, damaging the implants before they have properly attached can cause lots of problems – you may even have to start the treatment again. Don’t brush or floss too aggressively either, the gums are very fragile following surgery, so treat them accordingly. Quality implants that have been well fitted have a very high success rate, and should last for decades if adequately cared for. If you are concerned about missing teeth affecting your smile, talk to the highly trained surgeons at the Pearl Dental Clinic in London, they can provide top-class customer service with the best in modern dentistry techniques.