What Is the Process of Dental Implants?
Hi, I’m Dr Billy Choi, the principal dentist at Precision Dental here at Fortitude Valley in Brisbane.
One of our long term patients, Jane from Bowen Hills, visited our clinic last Monday. She came in for her regular check up and then clean with our hygienists. At the appointment she asked me, “Hey Billy, I’m looking at getting dental implants for my mum. She’s got a missing tooth. What is the process of a dental implant?”
I explained the process with her, and she said, “That sounds pretty straight forward, let’s book mum in.”
For people who want to replace missing teeth with dental implants, they often think it’s a complicated process, and are pleasantly surprised how straightforward it actually is, so I decided to make a quick video sharing with you what I shared with Jane.
When you have a missing tooth, a dental implant is one of the ways to replace it.
When it comes to the dental procedure, pre-planning is the key.
We will need a comprehensive examination, so we can assess the gum, soft tissues and the surrounding teeth. 3D scans can be taken to assess the quality of the bone, that is, the width, height and density of the bone that is available on the site. If the bone quality is poor or lacks volume then there may be need for bone grafting to support the actual implant. We can also assess if there are any anatomical features that we want to avoid such as a sinus or the nerves nearby.
Through this examination and assessment we can determine if the patient is eligible, then we will plan the size, the length and the angle of the implant.
On the day of the surgery, we will place the titanium implant into the bone. Most of the time, placing the implant is actually less traumatic than pulling a tooth out. Putting a screw into the bone may sound dreadful, but a lot of patients find it’s not as traumatic as they think.
Once the implant is placed in the bone, we will leave it and let it heal. The healing stage takes about three to four months for the bone to integrate into the surfaces of the implant. Then we can test the implant and make sure it is fully fixed into the bone.
Once it passes the test, we move onto the second stage of the implant process, which is the prosthetic part of the implant. At this appointment, we will take a digital scan and send it to the dental lab for fabrication of the implant crown.
When the implant crown is ready, we get the patient in and we try it on. We make sure the crown fits and bites perfectly before we screw it in securely.
After about one month, we get the patient back in for review and we will tighten the screw to fix it permanently.
I hope you found this video useful. If you have a missing tooth or a few missing teeth, are based in Brisbane, and are considering dental implants, we would love to look after you.
Simply call us, book online on our website, or send us a DM on social media, and we’ll be in touch to help you organise your consultation. We hope to meet you soon.
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The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional personal diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your dentist or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a dental or medical condition. Never disregard professional advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read or seen on the Site.
Services We Mentioned:
Dental Implants
Dental Check-Up and Clean
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