People lose their natural teeth for quite a few different reasons. Untreated tooth decay. Gum disease. Physical trauma. Cancer surgeries.
Whatever got you there, losing one tooth or multiple teeth affects not just how you look and how your mouth functions, but also often your self-confidence and sense of well being.
How long does a dental implant procedure take?
Most dental implant surgeries are performed as outpatient procedures in a dental clinic. The surgery is performed under local anesthesia or IV sedation. General anesthesia may be needed in rare cases. In that case, the patient might have to stay at the hospital overnight.
Dental implant procedures require a number of appointments. Starting from consultation, they also require a look at your medical history, radiographic assessment, a surgical phase, and prosthetic phase. These appointments can be spread out over several weeks or months.
Preparing for your dental implant surgery
After initial consultation and counseling, your dentist will advise you to get some specialized x-rays and a CBCT to better understand the bone architecture of your jaw. This will help them select the implant size (length and width) which can be placed safely in your jaw. It also helps in determining the exact site of implant placement and whether any additional surgeries might be needed.
If you are diabetic, hypertensive, or suffer from any other ailments, the dentist might advise you to get your blood work done just to confirm that everything is within the normal parameters.
Certain medically compromised patients may have to get approval from their physicians before dental implant surgery.
Scaling
The site of surgery should be as free of harmful micro-organisms as possible and this is why scaling is recommended for all patients prior to dental implant surgery. Patients who have lost teeth because of poor gum health may need to undergo gum surgeries as well before they go to the next stage of treatment.
Antibiotics
Your dentist may start you with antibiotics and a mouthwash a couple of days prior to the procedure to prevent any infections during or after the procedure.
Food and diet
If the procedure is to be carried out under local anesthesia, you can have your routine meals prior to the surgery. If the procedure will be done under sedation or general anesthesia, you’ll be advised to stop all solid foods from about eight hours before the surgery, and all liquids from about four hours before the surgery.
On the day of the procedure
- After the anesthesia kicks in, the surgeon uses a surgical blade to cut through the gums, and expose the underlying jaw bone. Then using a specialized drill, the surgeon starts cutting through the bone until the required depth and diameter of the hole are achieved. You may feel some vibrations or pressure at this time, but no pain.
- Once the ideal sized hole is drilled in the bone, the surgeon will screw the selected implant in place.
- After the implant is placed, the surgeon will close the site by placing stitches in the gums. Post-surgical medicines are prescribed and aftercare instructions provided.
- The stitches are removed after around eight to 10 days.
Newer, guided, surgery protocols actually do not require any incisions or stitches so the surgery may be even more comfortable, depending on what kind your surgeon is performing.
Dental implants: After healing is complete
After around three to four months, the surgeon will call you to check the progress of healing and bone formation around the implant. If you've healed sufficiently, the surgeon will again make a small incision in the gum over the implant to expose it.
After that, an attachment known as a "healing cap" is screwed onto the implant. This helps the mold gums so that the subsequent final cap gets a smooth and concave gum surface over which it can be placed.
The prosthetic phase of dental implants
After the gum has healed and molded around the healing cap, the dentist will attach an abutment to the implant. This acts as a structure over which the prosthetic crown can be attached.
Once the abutment is attached, the dentist will take measurements of the jaw along with the implant and send it to the dental laboratory for fabrication of a customized crown that fits perfectly over the abutment.
When the prosthesis arrives, the dentist attaches it to the abutment with the help of a screw or dental cement.
In certain selective cases, the prosthetic phase can be done in the same sitting as the surgical phase, or within a week of implant placement.
Dental implants: Instructions you should follow after getting the final cap
Once the prosthesis is delivered, the patient is required to go for a routine checkup to a dentist at least once a year — just like everyone else. Although prosthetic crowns don’t get cavities, some gum problems can arise. Regular checkups can help detect a problem at an early stage and prevent it from ballooning into a full-blown emergency.
Conclusion
Sources & Links
- Photo courtesy of SteadyHealth