How Are Teeth Implants Done?

Reasons for Implants

Dental implants replace one or more missing teeth. Implants are sometimes preferable over traditional dentures and bridges because of their more natural look and feel. Traditional bridges require that adjacent healthy teeth be modified for bridge attachment. Traditional bridges also may need to be replaced one or more times over a lifetime. Dental implants usually do not need to be replaced.

What Is a Dental Implant?

A dental implant is a synthetic tooth that is adhered to a metal post. The metal post is screwed into the jawbone. The metal post functionally replaces the root of a natural tooth. If multiple teeth are missing, two dental implants can act as a supporting structure for a more complex bridge. The bridge is anchored to the implants providing a stable, long-lasting tooth replacement solution. The post, or screw, of a dental implant is made of titanium.

The Procedure

To place dental implants, an oral surgeon gives a person a local anesthesia and exposes the bone where the implant will be placed. A base for the implant is installed and closed with a screw. When the base is properly placed with the cover screw, the incision that exposed the bone is sewn closed and allowed to heal. Lower jaw implants tend to heal faster than upper jaw implants. Implants in the lower jaw often heal in three months, while those in the upper can take six months.

When the initial implant base has properly healed, the base is uncovered and the cover screw is removed in a second surgery. A temporary crown is screwed in in place of the cover screw and the gums and tissue are given two or three months to heal and form around the temporary crown.

Once the tissue has properly healed, a final prosthetic tooth is made and fitted onto the implanted base. The final prosthetic is sometimes mounted on a gold or titanium screw and screwed into the implanted base. In other cases, it is glued directly to the base.

In some cases, implants can be installed in a single procedure. However, stability and implant longevity can suffer if the tissues are not allowed to heal in between procedures. Consult with your dentist and oral surgeon to see if single surgery implants are appropriate for your needs.