Your dental care team will instruct you about eating and drinking before surgery, depending on what type of anesthesia you have. If you're having sedation or general anesthesia, plan to have someone take you home after surgery and expect to rest for the remainder of the day. Dental implant surgery is usually an outpatient surgery performed in stages, with healing time between procedures.
The process of placing a dental implant involves multiple steps, including:. The entire process can take many months from start to finish. Much of that time is devoted to healing and waiting for the growth of new bone in your jaw.
Depending on your situation, the specific procedure done or the materials used, certain steps can sometimes be combined. Your oral surgeon may need to transplant a small portion of bone — commonly from another site in the upper or lower jawbone — to give the dental implant a solid foundation. If your jawbone isn't thick enough or is too soft, you may need bone grafting before you can have dental implant surgery.
That's because the powerful chewing action of your mouth exerts great pressure on your bone, and if it can't support the implant, the surgery likely would fail. A bone graft can create a more solid base for the implant.
There are several bone graft materials that can be used to rebuild a jawbone. Options may include a natural bone graft, such as from another location in your body, or a synthetic bone graft, such as bone-substitute material that can provide support structures for new bone growth. Talk to your doctor about options that will work best for you. It may take several months for the transplanted bone to grow enough new bone to support a dental implant.
In some cases, you may need only minor bone grafting, which can be done at the same time as the implant surgery. The condition of your jawbone determines how you proceed. During surgery to place the dental implant, your oral surgeon makes a cut to open your gum and expose the bone.
Holes are drilled into the bone where the dental implant metal post will be placed. Since the post will serve as the tooth root, it's implanted deep into the bone. At this point, you'll still have a gap where your tooth is missing.
A type of partial, temporary denture can be placed for appearance, if needed. You can remove this denture for cleaning and while you sleep. Once the metal implant post is placed in your jawbone, osseointegration oss-ee-oh-in-tuh-GRAY-shun begins. During this process, the jawbone grows into and unites with the surface of the dental implant. This process, which can take several months, helps provide a solid base for your new artificial tooth — just as roots do for your natural teeth.
When osseointegration is complete, you may need additional surgery to place the abutment — the piece where the crown will eventually attach.
This minor surgery is typically done with local anesthesia in an outpatient setting. In some cases, the abutment is attached to the dental implant metal post when the post is implanted. That means you won't need an extra surgical step. Because the abutment juts past the gumline, however, it's visible when you open your mouth — and it will be that way until your dentist completes the tooth prosthesis.
Some people don't like that appearance and prefer to have the abutment placed in a separate procedure. After the abutment is placed, your gums must heal for about two weeks before the artificial tooth can be attached. Once your gums heal, you'll have more impressions made of your mouth and remaining teeth. These impressions are used to make the crown — your realistic-looking artificial tooth. Our North Oaks restorative dentist, Dr.
Steve Gorman , will examine your jaw and gums to determine if dental implants could be beneficial for you. If your jawbone has an adequate foundation for the titanium posts that will be anchored to it, you might be a good candidate for this procedure. Age is not a barrier to implant dentistry; in fact, people of all ages are choosing dental implants for tooth replacement. If you are a good candidate for dental implants, the next procedure is the surgical placement of the titanium implant in the jawbone.
The use of local anesthesia makes the procedure comfortable for patients. Oftentimes, the site of the dental implant still has an existing damaged tooth present and the tooth will need to be extracted and a bone graft placed.
In some instances, when enough bone is present, the damaged tooth can be extracted and followed by the implant placement at the same appointment.
There is a 3 to 6 month waiting period for the implant to integrate with your jawbone, forming a strong foundation for the replacement tooth. Gorman blends artistry with the science of dentistry to make your restoration look, feel, and function like your natural teeth!
No one will know you have dental implants. View Our Smile Gallery. Our top restorative dentist has been placing and restoring implants for 10 years and has outstanding functional and cosmetic results.
Through osseointegration, they fasten to your jawbone over time. There are a few reasons your dental professional may recommend them over the more commonly used endosteal implants. You may have bone loss in your jaw, or the shape or health of your jaw may not support the surgical insertion of metal required by endosteal implants. There are two procedures your oral surgeon will perform if subperiosteal implants are determined to be the best option for you.
During the first surgery, your gumline will be cut open near the area of tooth loss so a mold can be made of your jawbone. Sutures will then be used to close the incision until the second procedure, when the implant is placed onto the bone. Improvements in imaging, bone grafting , and implant design have made the use of these implants fewer and further between.
However, there are still circumstances in which this procedure may be the most viable option for you:. As always, practice good dental hygiene and be sure to follow the post-op instructions provided by your dental professional. They may recommend that you eat only soft foods for a short period of time, and if you're a smoker, they may urge you to quit smoking as it can have adverse effects on your implants.
Your dental professional will remove the sutures from your gums after they've healed and will be able to check for infection and proper growth at that time. There is no one-size-fits-all solution for replacement teeth.
But, now that you know the difference between the two most recommended types of implants, you're better prepared for a constructive conversation. Be sure to ask any questions that arise so you can come to an informed decision with your dentist.
Whatever dental implant you and your dental professional end up choosing, we hope it makes you smile. Learn more about what to expect from dental implant surgery here. This article is intended to promote understanding of and knowledge about general oral health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your dentist or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.
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