So you’re getting a dental implant, and you’re not quite sure what all that means and what’s involved in the process. It isn’t as easy or simple as it may be shown on social platforms or in the conversations you hear between strangers. There are a few steps here and there to make ensue of a positive Implant procedure.
Here is a walk thorough step-by-step guide to all that will be involved in the implant procedure. Come look at you will need to prep yourself and get all the answers to the questions you had.
Step One: Comprehensive Medical and Dental Evaluation
The first step will be coming into the office so that a comprehensive medical and dental evaluation can be started. This allows an evaluation of your health history to make sure you’re a suitable candidate for implants and also to go over all the treatment plans, whether for single-tooth implants, multiple implants, a removable appliance, or even full mouth cases.
Step two: Determine if You Are a Good Candidate for Implants
If determined you’re a good candidate for implants, the next step is to do a CBCT. A CBCT allows the ability to see the quantity and quality of the bone.
That is important because it makes sure that when placed the implant, has stability. A CBCT is also important to do because this allows a planned out exact placement of the implant. This is important not just from a surgical aspect, but also from a restorative aspect as well.
Step Three: Day of Your Surgery
You finally made it to the day when you get to have your implant placed. This day is really important and patients usually have a lot of questions for the day of surgery. There are a lot of options to help the patient feel relaxed.
Nitrous
Option One is Nitrous; This is a gas based option that allows you to relax and take the jitters and the nervousness out.
IV Sedation
The next option is IV Sedation, if you choose sedation, a medical screening will need to be done for this option. In addition, you’ll need to be assisted when done with the procedure. You also need to have not eaten anything 12 hours prior to the procedure.
Placement of the Implant
The first thing to be done is to place the surgical guide on the patient. the guide is what helps set the implant in the perfect location that it was preplanned for. After the dental procedure is started for surgical placement of the dental implant.
After the placement, you’ll usually get one to two stitches just to make sure that the tissue closes over perfectly.
Restoration of an Implant
There are many different ways to restore an implant on the day of the surgery. If the capability to plan ahead and the bone quality is great and can put an actual temporary tooth on there, it can be done. If not then what happens is that the tissue has to be closed over and have either a flipper or a temporary partial, essentially a fake tooth, that goes in and kind of camouflages to make it look like your tooth is there. (This will be worn for 3-6 months until healed)
It serves a very important purpose. It protects the tissue. It looks nice. It allows you to function and go out in society while your implant heals behind the scenes.
Step four: Healing from Your Implant Placement
The healing phase from implant placement is not an active healing where you’re hobbling around or you’re not able to do the things that you would normally do. the first couple of days you’re going to be a little sore and It’s gonna be a little tender. With the flipper in there to protect everything, you’ll be able to go back to normal eating and talking, whatever you want to do.
Basically behind the scenes, what’s happening is that the implant is placed and the new bone cell actually grows onto the surface and really locks it into place. That’s why we have to wait at least three to four months, depending on how strong that bone was on the day of surgery before we can start the process of putting the tooth on top.
PRF (Platelet-Rich Fibrin)
An additional healing option for patients is PRF. This is when the patient’s own blood is drawn and spun down in a centrifuge. This involves drawing out all the good things in your blood, like the white blood cells and platelets. It is proven that with this, healing of four weeks is equivalent to one week. It speeds up the recovery process tremendously, allowing you to get back to your life and your daily activities faster. ( This will be done during the actual surgery)
Step five: Healing Abutment
After waiting 3-6 months for that implant to integrate into that bone and gain that stability, you need to go in and get in place a healing abutment.
When you come in for this procedure, You will have to get numb to start the procedure. A tiny incision will be made to gain access to the implant. The healing abutment will get placed following this. The healing abutment is placed on top of the implant to shape and tighten the gums so that a Crown can be made for you.
Step six: Making Your Tooth
You will come in for the removal of the healing abutment. Then an impression post will be placed as a replacement. This takes an impression of your top & bottom teeth, along with your bite registration to ensure that the crown on top, fits perfectly into your mouth.
The healing piece will be placed back on and sent off to the lab. The technician will sit down, and design your crown from the implant Impression. Once the final tooth is made, you will be fitted and made sure that it’s a good bite.
Dr. Brett Langston and the team at Dental Implant & Aesthetic Specialists can provide a discussion with you if a dental implant procedure is needed for you. Reach out today to learn more.