Dental Implant Process

Before the implant procedure is started, the patient’s oral set up has to be screened thoroughly. The dentist would check for signs of gum diseases, oral infections, spacing available for placing the implant, jawbone deterioration, possible malocclusion due to drifting of teeth, etc. X-rays and scans of the teeth will be taken to determine the size and contour of the implant required, and to map out the positioning of the teeth.

Once the dentist confirms that you are a good candidate for an implant, you will be prepared for the surgery. Local anesthesia will be used prior to starting the surgery in order to numb the teeth, gums, jawbone and surrounding tissues. A small incision will be made on the gums to expose the jawbone. A high precision dental instrument will be used to made a small hole in the jawbone and the implant will be carefully inserted into it. After the surgery, a certain duration of healing will be recommended by the dentist during which the jawbone will fuse with the grooves of the implant. It would usually be a few months.

The data and dimensions obtained from the scans will be sent to a dental laboratory. Here, dental-grade ceramic will be used to fabricate the tooth crown with high precision. It will also be matched with the exact shade of the remaining teeth.

After the wound has healed perfectly and the jawbone has fused to the implant, making it firm and stable, the dentist would attach the crown to the implant. A connecting element called the abutment is used for this purpose along with dental adhesives. Once the crown is firmly attached, it will be checked for fit and comfort, and any changes in terms of aesthetics or comfort, is made.