Dental Implants: The Process
Dental implants placed in the jaw, are an ideal solution to replace natural teeth that have been removed due to irreparable damage or trauma. Once the implant has been placed, a crown or denture will be securely fixed, which will achieve stability, functionality and aesthetically pleasing results.

What you should know about dental implants

If you are considering a dental implant, it is advisable to have a discussion with your dentist, who will advise if it would be a suitable option, whilst explaining the procedure and process involved. It is important to be aware that it may take between three to nine months for your jaw to become accustomed to the dental implant, but may vary depending on each individual’s healing process.

The stages involved in the dental implant procedure

1st Stage: Placement of the implant into the jaw with the abutment attached that holds the implant in place, sometimes performed in two parts.

2nd Stage: Fusing the implant with the surrounding jaw takes around six weeks to six months. During this period your dentist might suggest you wear temporary artificial teeth.

3rd Stage: Fitting and placement of artificial teeth onto the dental implant.

Additional stages involved in the Dental Implant Procedure

In addition to the above-mentioned stages of the dental implant procedure, there are two other stages involved:

Extraction of teeth: If there is a problem with one of your teeth, the dentist might recommend you to get it extracted and replaced by an implant and an artificial tooth. The dentist will further explain the procedure and the expected time involved.

Grafting of bone: Sometimes you won’t have enough bone to support a dental implant in your jaw and you might need a bone grafting that is similar to adding a new bone by your dentist. The additional bone can be taken from another part of your body or can be from an animal source.

Who can and cannot get a dental implant?

Dental implants are readily applicable to adults who have a good health status and have healthy gums. Children and young people who are under 18 are not recommended to have an implant because the bones are still growing and are weak.

Dentists do not recommend implantation surgery to the patients who:

Are smokers
Have gone through radiotherapy of the jaw
Are suffering from diabetes that is not well-maintained
Have any sort of gum diseases
The dentist will be happy to discuss any concerns and apprehensions you may have about the procedure and will ask about your dental and medical history in order to decide if a dental implant would be a suitable option.