Tooth Implant Process — Learn About the Treatment Guide

Tooth Implant Process – A Step-by-Step Guide 

The dental implant procedure involves several stages – screening and pre-treatment, dental implant surgery, and the final restoration. Let’s take a closer look at the process.

• Comprehensive oral and general examination

Before proceeding with dental implant surgery, we must determine if dental implants are suitable for your situation. Our surgeon will thoroughly assess your mouth structures, such as jawbone density, gum condition, and oral health, using x-rays and 3D scans.

Dental implants aren’t for everyone. Patients with chronic illnesses such as leukemia or uncontrolled diabetes or that have problems with wound healing may have to explore alternative treatment options. Active gum disease is another condition that could defer implant treatment until a dentist has treated it and good oral health is restored.

• Pre-treatment procedures

After an oral health check, our dentists can assess the status of the jawbone and create a treatment plan accordingly. This may include pre-treatment procedures such as gum disease therapy or tooth extraction to optimise the jawbone for dental implants.

If it has been a while since tooth loss occurred, the bone has likely resorbed. Consequently, bone grafting may be necessary to increase jawbone density to provide a stable foundation for the implant and help ensure the success of dental implant surgery. Sinus lifting may also be recommended for patients receiving dental implants in the upper back jaw to create more space in the sinus cavities.

• Dental implant surgery

Once the surgeon confirms that your jawbone and overall health are in optimum condition, we can proceed with dental implant surgery. Depending on the number of dental implants needed, this should take about 1 to 2 hours. Patients are administered a local anaesthetic and sedation if requested to keep them relaxed during the dental implant procedure.

A small incision will be made on the gums to allow access to the bone. Then, the dentist will gently drill a hole into the bone where the implant will be placed. Once the implant is in place, the gum will be stitched close and allowed to heal. In around 7 to 10 days, the stitches should dissolve.

• Placement of abutment

Patients now face a 4 to 6 months wait at this stage of the tooth implant process to allow their bone to fuse with the implant. Once this natural phenomenon has occurred, the dental implant procedure is deemed a success. Patients then need to return to the clinic for minor surgery to attach the abutment. This tiny component connects the implant screw with the artificial tooth attachment.

Again, local anaesthesia is administered for this minor surgery. The gum covering the implant will be incised so the abutment can be screwed in. Then, the gums are sutured together and left to heal for around two weeks.

• Final restoration

With a fully healed surgical site, our dentists can now proceed with designing the tooth attachment to complete the restoration. Some patients may only need one dental crown to replace a single missing tooth, while others will need a dental bridge or dentures for multiple teeth replacement.

The replacement porcelain teeth will be colour-matched to the surrounding teeth, so they blend seamlessly into the smile.

At No Gaps Dental, we offer patients CEREC same-day dental crowns. This procedure allows us to design and mill the crown for attachment to the dental implant in just one dental appointment. Our in-house CAD/CAM technology and crown milling machine make this possible.

Following the dental implant procedure, our dentist will gladly walk you through this treatment option if you’re interested in a convenient process that delivers accurate crowns.

Your Safety During the Dental Implant Procedure

For over 50 years, dental implants have provided patients with a permanent solution to tooth loss. At No Gaps Dental, we take pride in a safe, effective, and efficient tooth implant process with an impressive success rate. This is due to our commitment to ensuring the highest quality and safety control measures to limit potential risks and complications.

We promptly clean our dental units and surgical areas in between patients using high-level disinfectants. All instruments are heat-sterilised and stored correctly. Meanwhile, single-use materials are disposed of correctly and replaced for subsequent treatments. Our dental staff and professionals also wear protective gear to prevent the transmission of bacteria.

Hand sanitiser units are available on all corners of our clinic. We also encourage patients to use a hand sanitiser before and after their treatment to keep pathogens at bay and everyone safe.

Renew Your Smile with Dental Implants

Bring back the confidence in your smile and replace your missing tooth with dental implants. They are the closest you can get to natural teeth in how they look, feel, and function. So even though there is quite a long wait time to complete the dental implant procedure, the results will be natural-looking and beautiful. Implants can last several decades or more with good oral hygiene and regular dental check-ups.

For the tooth implant process at No Gaps Dental, we employ safety precautions with hand sanitiser units, PPEs, disinfectants, and the like to boost patient confidence in our treatments.