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Dental Implant Process Step By Step

In this guide, we’re looking at each stage in the treatment plan and what you can expect from the treatment and the recovery time.

Dental Implant Process Step By Step

Before embarking on the dental implant journey, it’s essential to understand all of the steps involved. With better understanding of each step in the treatment plan, you’ll be better prepared for the recovery and will be able to take proactive steps towards a swift recovery.

The treatment process is often very complex and may change depending on how your body responds to each stage. With this in mind, it’s important to remain flexible and adaptive throughout the treatment journey.

In this guide, we’re looking at each stage in the treatment plan and what you can expect from the treatment and the recovery time.

Step one: initial assessment

The first stage in the dental implant process is to attend an assessment with your dentist. This initial consultation is your chance to ask questions about the treatment. It’s also an opportunity for your dentist to learn more about your history (if they aren’t your usual dentist) and to examine your mouth and jaw.

Your dentist is looking for a few things to determine if you are a suitable candidate for treatment. First, they want to check for signs of gum disease. Active gum disease would put you at high risk of implant rejection, so this would need to be under control before starting treatment.

Next, they want to check if you have enough density in the jaw bone to support an implant. There’s little sense in placing an impact in bone that has low density, as this will not provide sufficient support.

Step two: placing the implant

If you are a good candidate for treatment and decide to go ahead, the first step will be placing the implant. Your dentist will create a small pocket in the jaw bone using a drill and then fit the implant. The gum is sutured closed above the implant and left to heal. This stage in the treatment plan is often compared to a tooth extraction. Your dentist will provide you with more detailed aftercare instructions, but you will need to be careful with the implant site and avoid drinking through a straw as the implant heals.

Step two: placing the abutment

The abutment sits on top of the implant and above the gumline. It is only placed once the implant has bonded with the jaw bone in a process known as osseointegration. The bone heals around the implant and forms a solid foundation for your tooth restoration.

At this stage in the treatment journey, your dentist will make a small cut in the gum to expose the top of the implant and then attach the abutment. The gum can then be contoured around the abutment to create a more natural finish.

As your gum heals, you’ll need to pay careful attention as you brush your teeth so that you don’t harm the gum as it heals.

Step three: placing the crown

The final stage in the treatment plan will be to fit and place the final restoration. This could be a single dental crown, a bridge, or a full arch restoration. This will mark the end of your treatment.

This is a simple step in the treatment plan and requires no downtime. It might take you some time to get used to caring for your new restoration. Chewing with a dental implant will also feel strange the first time you try it.

What can delay the treatment plan?

Everyone heals at different rates, so the main factor that will influence your treatment plan will be how quickly your body heals. By following the aftercare instructions, you can help your body to heal efficiently, but there isn’t much you can do to speed up the healing process.

Multiple implants will take longer to heal than individual implants, so if you are starting treatment for a full-arch restoration, expect healing times to be a little longer. If you would like to accelerate the treatment time for a full-arch restoration, All-On-4 dental implants could help. 

This treatment plan uses longer, angled dental implants that can support a load-bearing implant on the same day they are placed. You will still need to wait for your implants to heal, and will need to adjust your diet to avoid very hard or crunchy food in the meantime, but it can provide a faster restoration.

Ready to explore this treatment plan?

If you’re curious about how dental implants can transform your life, get in touch with our team. We can arrange a consultation to find out if you are a good candidate for single implants, or implant-retained dentures.

Your initial consultation is an ideal opportunity to learn more about the treatment plan and how it could help you to increase your confidence and overcome obstacles related to tooth loss. Get in touch today to book your consultation and start the journey towards a healthier and more confident smile.

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