The Dental Implant Procedure Explained
Anyone considering undergoing dental implants in Richmond, or indeed anywhere else in the country might already know that they’ll have to undergo a series of processes that takes anywhere between 3 and 9 months to complete. However what they might not know is exactly what those stages or processes entail. Let’s take a closer look.
Initial examination and consultation
After opting to go ahead with the procedure the first stage for any implant patient is the initial examination. During this process the dentist will carefully examine every aspect of your oral make-up. This includes
- A complete dental examination
- Gum disease evaluation
- Bite and jaw analysis
- Taking of 3D X-rays and images of the jaw area and finally….
- An in depth consultation on the implants themselves and how they work
Treatment planning
The second stage doesn’t really involve the patient and is more down to the dentist and that’s treatment planning. During this stage the dentist will prepare and plan the treatment necessary to proceed. They’ll go into detail and consider things like the number of visits needed, the length of the procedure from start to finish, any other treatments needed, recovery times, and the overall cost. Because every situation is unique, every treatment plan is customised specifically to that patient and once designed, this will contain the details with which to follow.
Surgery
Once the treatment plan is in place and all parties are happy, then the next stage is surgery. This might be the fitting of the implants themselves or if a patient requires other treatments such as bone grafts or sinus lifts prior to implantation, then this is carried out now. Assuming that the area has been prepared and the dental implant is ready for fixing, then a tiny hole will be drilled down into the jaw through the gum and the titanium implant tapped into place. Over time the surrounding bone tissue will merge and fuse with it creating a super strong platform.
Fitting the crowns
Once the dentist is happy that the body has accepted the implant and that the bone tissue has sufficiently grown then a small connecting piece known as the abutment is fitted. This is the link between the implant and the visible crown. When this has been fitted then a life-like crown which has been crafted in the laboratory to exactly match your tooth colouring and bite is finally fastened to the connecting abutment.
Continuing monitoring
During the next six months or so once the crown has been fitted, the implant is monitored closely by the dental team. This may involve regular check-ups every three to six months and then annually thereafter.
Although undergoing treatment for a dental implant in Richmond may seem like a lengthy process it’s a necessary one that needs commitment from both you and the dental team. If you would like to find out more about the implant processes then check out our website at www.sheendentalimplants.co.uk. Alternatively, if you’d like to have some of your questions and concerns answered then why not speak to us in person on 020 8876 5277, so that you can make a fully informed dental decision.