Dental Implant Procedure

Having dental implants can be quite a lengthy and uncomfortable process, especially when multiple teeth are being replaced. It can take months for the treatment to be fully completed and you will need to visit your dentist for a number of appointments.

The first stage of the treatment is to put the titanium ‘roots’ in place. Your dentist will use a local anaesthetic and, in some cases, sedation, during the procedure to try and make it as pain-free as possible. They will then make an incision in your gum to expose the jawbone where the implant will be placed. A special drill is then used to make a hole for the titanium fixture to sit in. Once the implant root is in place the gums are stitched back up. You will then need to wait between three and six months for the bone to heal around and bond to the implant. During this time your dentist may fit you with temporary restorations such as a bridge or dentures.

Once the tissue has healed around the implant your replacement teeth can be fixed into place. You will once again need to have a local anaesthetic or sedation while your dentist makes another incision into your gum to expose the implant fixture. Your new restorations can then be fitted. In some cases the dentist will use a crown to replace a single tooth. This can be made so that it matches the colour and shape of your existing teeth. When more teeth are missing the implants may be used to support bridges. This is similar to a normal dental bridge, expect for the fact that the bridge is anchored to the implant instead of other teeth.