Dental implants – procedure

The installation of dental implants takes from half an hour to several hours, depending on the number of screws that are installed. Before implantation, it is necessary to do an X-ray in order to determine the amount of bone and the position of the sinus if the implantation in the upper jaw is in question. After the implant is placed on the front teeth, a temporary crown is placed and then a permanent one is made. It is important to note that the patient chooses the appearance of his teeth, shade, size, shape, so the dentist is guided by this in the process of making a dental crown.

Depending on the number of teeth that need to be replaced, the entire installation process varies from a few days to several months (in the case of implant placement in the entire jaw). In any case, immediately after the installation of the screw, the patient received a temporary crown, so he can immediately return to daily activities. The installation of a dental implant will not interfere too much with the daily life and plans of the patient.

Porcelain fused to metal crowns or all ceramic crowns can be installed on a dental implant, where the only difference is in the aesthetics and the material from which they were made. Note that there is usually a metal line on the rim of the porcelain fused to metal crown, which becomes visible over time when the gums are pulled. The gums start to darken in contact with the metal after a certain time, so this type of crown is not recommended for front teeth.

 

What are the stages of dental implant placement?

Dental implants are most often installed in three stages:

  1. The first phase consists of surgical placement of the implant in the bone if it is of satisfactory structure and density. A dental implant plays the role of a tooth root. The implant is then placed under the gums flush with the bone. In that way, the implant is protected from the load until it is osseointegrated, that is until it does not heal. At the end of the healing process, the dental implant must be surgically opened.
  2. In the second phase, the surgeon checks whether the dental implant has successfully osseointegrated and joined the bone. If so, he then places an extension on the dental implant that holds the tooth crown at a certain angle and it is called an abutment. Abutments come in a variety of forms. They are procured from the manufacturer or made to measure by the patient in the dental laboratory.
  3. The third phase involves the placement of a dental veneer (porcelain fused to metal or all ceramic crowns) and is performed after the gums have healed around the abutment.

Research has shown that the required cap for healing can be placed at the same time as the dental implant itself. This method has some limitations, but it avoids the need for another operation in which the dental implant is exposed. No matter which way you choose the implant, it still takes some time for osseointegration.

Is dental implant placement painful?

Local anesthesia is most often used when installing a dental implant, and that is why this process is absolutely painless.

What is the success rate of dental implants?

Thanks to the great scientific efforts and research that are invested in the improvement of implantology and accompanying techniques, the percentage of success in the installation of dental implants ranges from 95-98%. The development of implantology, technology and the surgical-prosthetic guidelines themselves influence the percentage of successful implantation and durability of dental implants to increase day by day.

The success of the installation of dental implants and the long-term nature of such restorations are influenced by many factors. If the dental implant is not successfully osseointegrated (fused to the patient’s bone), it may be necessary to remove it. In many situations, a second implant may be placed in the patient’s bone, but such a situation may require a period of rest and bone healing or some of the procedures to replace the lost bone tissue.