The dental implant procedure involves several different steps, which will vary depending on the type of implant and the overall treatment plan. One of the most important steps of the dental implant procedure is adequate healing time; after the titanium dental implant posts are surgically implanted into the jawbone, the bone heals around the implant post and the two gradually fuse together. Once this fusion, called osseointegration, is complete, the dental implant functions much like a natural tooth root would, supporting a dental crown or other dental restoration. When healing is interrupted and osseointegration fails, the implant can’t serve its vital purpose: sturdily, permanently supporting and stabilizing an artificial tooth or row of teeth. Each patient’s dental implant treatment will include every step needed to ensure the success of the implant, which could include additional procedures like bone grafts or other periodontal treatments.
To account for all of these potential additional procedures, all dental implant treatments begin with an initial evaluation of the mouth and teeth. During this evaluation, the dentist will examine the mouth visually, manually, and with x-rays, including additional dental specialists in planning as needed. These dental implant team members could include a maxillofacial surgeon, a periodontist, a general dentist, an anesthetist, and a dental hygienist. If any preparatory surgeries or other procedures are required, these are accounted for in the planning stage and appropriate members of the dental team are consulted. Additionally, the dentist will review your medical history to ensure that any conditions or concerns that could adversely affect implant success are addressed and managed.
Once your treatment plan has been constructed and reviewed and any preparatory procedures and their healing periods are completed, you’re ready for dental implant surgery. This procedure is performed while the patient is anesthetized, which will require some extra measures as you prepare for surgery and for travel and aftercare. To begin the procedure, the dentist will first extract any remaining damaged teeth that are being replaced. Then, they will make an incision in the gum tissue, exposing the bone beneath, which may need to be modified by drilling so the tooth socket can accommodate the dental implant post. Once the jawbone is prepared, the titanium post is implanted in the bone and given time to heal. It could take several months for the dental implant site to heal, but complete healing is necessary to achieve the stability and permanence that dental implants are known for. Your dentist will examine your mouth periodically as you heal; once they have determined that osseointegration is successful, they will move on to the next step in the procedure.
This final step of the dental implants procedure involves making another incision in the gums to expose the tip of the dental implant, using local anesthetic to numb the area, and then affixing an attachment apparatus called an abutment to the implant. The gum tissue is sutured around this abutment, to create the appearance of a natural tooth emerging from the gum line, and the gums are given a few weeks to heal. Finally, the prosthetic tooth is attached to the abutment, creating a dental restoration that is remarkably similar in appearance, feel, and function to a natural, healthy tooth and its root.