Implant Procedure Explained
What is a dental implant?
A dental implant is essentially a substitute for a natural root and commonly it is screw or cylinder shaped.
Each implant is placed into a socket, carefully drilled at the precise location of the intended tooth. If an implant has a screw-thread on its outer surface it can be screwed into position and if it does not, it is usually tapped into place.
The main aim during installation of any implant is to achieve immediate close contact with the surrounding bone. This creates an initial stability, which over time is steadily enhanced by further growth of bone into microscopic roughnesses on the implant surface.
In order to support replacement teeth, dental implants normally have some form of internal screw thread or post space that allows a variety of components to be fitted. Once fitted, these components provide the foundation for long-term support of crowns, bridges or dentures.
What is involved in the Implant Treatment?
Tool Implant treatment can be considered to involve a minimum of four stages:
(1) Assessment and planning: at the initial consultation, after discussing possible alternatives, Dr. Elmanharawy will assess the feasibility of providing implant treatment. X ray may be taken and preliminary models may be prepared.
A written plan is then formulated detailing the sequence of treatment and associated cost.
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.(2) Implant placement: a relatively simple minor surgical procedure that must be performed in a sterile environment under local anaesthesia. If after assessment the underlying bone is judged to be deficient, a number of options are a available for bone regeneration. This may be carried out prior to, or at the same time as, the implant placement.
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(3) Integration period: In certain circumstances surgery may also be followed by immediate placement of a crown or denture onto the Implants placed. This is applicable in cases where the bone is stable and is usually for patients who have had teeth removed within the last 6 months. Implants can be placed immediately after extraction – as long as the extracted teeth did not exhibit signs of acute infection. Most of these details will be available to you after your initial consultation and X-rays or a CT scan has been taken. If immediate placement is not possible a period of three months or more may be needed for the implant to fully integrate before loading. The patient’s own denture or in some cases a simple adhesive bridge can be worn during this healing phase.
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(4) Restorative Phase: Once integrated the implants may need to be uncovered and can be brought into function with a variety of restorations, ranging from a single crown, small or large bridge, or if preferred, a removable over denture c lipped to the implants.
This stage involves taking impressions and final fit of the ceramic crown, bridgework or denture.
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(5) Maintenance: Following the completion of implant treatment, patients need to clean thoroughly around the implants as instructed by our dental hygienists. Patients should attend for regular review so that the health of the soft tissue bone levels and the integrity of the restoration can be checked
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Dental Implant Treatment Case - Replacing multiple missing teeth
