Dental Implants

Implant Process

The dental implant process has three main stages and you will go through each one when you undergo the procedure.

• Step 1 – The first step involves the surgical aspect of the procedure where the implant itself is placed into your jaw bone. The implants can be placed in either your top jaw, bottom jaw, or both. It usually takes at least 6 months for the implant to properly integrate into your bone.
  
• Step 2 – The second step of the process involves placing the abutment on top of the titanium post. The post must be fully healed in the gum before the abutment is set. Once you are ready for the abutment, it is attached to the post via a screw. This is the piece that is responsible for connecting the crown and implant to each other.
• Step 3 – Now it is the third step and this step is the implant restoration process. During this time, a crown is made to go over the abutment. The crown is either made from all porcelain, metal, or porcelain fused to metal. The crown will then be cemented to the abutment and will remain in place permanently.

Am I a Candidate for Dental Implants?

Patients who fit the bill for dental implants will be in good health, have no underlying dental problems, have a single missing tooth, multiple missing teeth, or all of their teeth missing, and they will have enough jaw bone to support the procedure. Often, patients will need to undergo other treatment procedures prior to receiving the dental implants such as having a cavity filled, gum disease treated, and so on.

If you do not have enough jaw bone to support the implant, you may need to undergo a procedure called bone grafting. This procedure helps to promote bone growth within your jaw. Once the area is healed and bone has reproduced, the implants can then be placed.