Considering a dental implant? If you have loose or missing teeth, or a denture you struggle to tolerate, the chances are you’ve considered dental implants. If you are considering implants or your dentist has recommended implant treatment, it is likely that you are considering the steps involved.
We have created a quick and easy guide to the steps involved in dental implant placement here at Yorkshire Dental Suite.
1. Initial Consultation
The first step is to attend for an implant consultation. At this appointment, you will meet with Dr Abdul Dalghous (one of the few implant and oral surgeon specialists in Yorkshire) who will take the time to discuss your concerns. During this appointment, we will do a comprehensive dental examination, assessing the health of your teeth, gums and jaw(s). Dr Dalghous will assess your suitability for a dental implant. Suitable candidates for dental implants have the following attributes:
- Missing one or more teeth
- Damaged tooth
- Good oral hygiene
- Sufficient bone in the jaw to support implants
- Overall decent physical health
If for any reason, you are deemed unsuitable for a dental implant, the team will discuss the next steps and any treatment required prior to beginning your implant procedure.
A detailed CBCT scan is taken of your mouth and jaw(s), allowing us to plan your case to perfection. Your dentist and dedicated team member will talk to you about your recommended treatment plan, going over the steps of the procedure, the time-frame for treatment, and your end-result. We also discuss whether or not you need a bone graft. Finance options will be discussed in detail, and you will be given plenty of information to consider. Your treatment plan is unique to you, and is designed and tailored with you in mind.
2. Planning
To plan your case with such remarkable precision, we need to gather vital information. At your planning appointment, we take a series of photographs, scans, and a CBCT radiograph. With specialised software, we transform these details in to a virtual image of your teeth, gums, and jaw(s). We can now accurately place your implant on screen, avoiding adjacent teeth and important nerves. Your unique digital plan is manipulated to provide your implantologist with a surgical guide. This rests in your mouth, providing the perfect platform to deliver your implant(s) in the ideal position.
3. First Phase of Treatment
The first phase of treatment involves the removal of any teeth which are being replaced with dental implants. Our clinicians will provide you with a temporary replacement solution (temporary denture or bridge) to wear whilst you undertake the remainder of your treatment. If you are missing a front tooth, you won’t be left with a gap! If a bone graft is required, this will be delivered at this appointment. Following a bone graft procedure, you can require up to 9 months of healing before your jaw is ready for the first implant.
4. Implant Placement
The next phase of treatment is your implant placement. The dental implant is made of titanium, and is gently placed in your jaw-bone. The procedure usually takes 1-2 hours and is performed under local anaesthetic, ensuring you are comfortable throughout. For more anxious patients, we offer dental sedation to keep you calm and relaxed during your appointment. Once your implant is placed, Dr Dalghous will place a healing cap to protect the implant.
After your implant has been placed, it is important to allow time for the site to heal, and your implant to integrate with your jaw bone. This process usually takes up to 3 months.
5. Implant Uncover
Once your tissues have healed, we remove your healing cap or temporary crown/bridge and take a series of impressions to make your permanent abutment (the attachment that connects your implant to your final crown/bridge). Your impressions are sent to a specialised laboratory where your final implant crown is created, bespoke for you. This is a quick, pain-free appointment. You can expect to spend around 30 minutes with us, and no local anaesthetic is required.
6. Final Fitting
3 weeks later, we receive your final implant crown from the laboratory, and it is ready to be fitted. No local anaesthetic is required. Your dentist will gently remove the healing cap and place your final implant crown. Treatment is complete and you walk away with a new smile.
7. Maintenance
Once your implant has been placed, routine maintenance is extremely important. We take this very seriously, and our team take the time to explain what is required. Strict oral hygiene is crucial to the long-term success of your dental implant, and we take every step to assist you. You will be offered opportunity to join our enhanced care plan, which entitles you to 2 x dental health examinations, and 4 x hygiene appointments per year. Plan members also benefit from an additional 10% of future treatment.
As a minimum, we recommend that all dental implant patients attend for an annual implant screening appointment, to check the health of the implant and the surrounding tissues. Our implants are typically successful and without issue, but should a problem arise, success rates are much higher when caught early.
Undertaking dental implant treatment is a big decision. It is not a quick-fix treatment, and the planning and procedure can take several weeks-months. It is important to remember that if cared for correctly, implants can last for many, many years (even a lifetime). Implants are the closest replica to your natural teeth, bringing back your smile, allowing you to chew properly, and restoring your confidence.
Enquire Now