Overview of Implant Placement

Kokomo Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Kokomo IN

What Are Dental Implants?

A natural tooth consists of a root and a crown. If you compare natural teeth to implant-supported replacement teeth, you’ll see they have the same basic parts. Both have a crown (the visible part used to chew food). Both have a root that holds the tooth securely under the gum and is anchored into the jaw. The difference is that the implant is made of titanium – the same time-tested material used by surgeons for artificial joints. When you lose a tooth, you lose both the root and the crown. To replace the tooth, Dr. Thompson first replaces the root with a  dental implant.

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Time is allowed for bone to heal and grow around the dental implant. The bone bonds with the titanium, creating a strong foundation for artificial teeth.  A support post (abutment) is then placed on the implant and a new replacement tooth (crown) is placed on top of the abutment. In a few cases, mainly upper anterior teeth, a temporary replacement tooth can be attached to the implant immediately after it is placed. If all of your teeth are missing, a variety of treatment options are available to support the replacement teeth.

The Surgical Procedure

The procedure to place an implant usually takes 30 to 60 minutes for one implant and maybe 1-2 hours for multiple implants. The number of appointments and time required, vary from patient to patient. Dr. Thompson and his surgical staff  will bring great precision and attention to the details of your case.

 Anesthetic options can be discussed with you at your consultation appointment. A local anesthetic will be administered to numb the area where the implant will be placed.

When you are comfortable,  a small incision is made in the gum tissue to reveal the bone. Then  space for the implant is made using special instruments. Then the titanium implant is gently inserted.  The top of this implant is sometimes visible through the gum. Sometimes it is better in the early stages of healing to have the implant covered by the gum tissue.

1. Normal

2. Tooth Loss

3. Healed Bone

4. Implant Placed

5. Healing

6. Implant Restored

The Healing Phase

Now the healing begins. The length of time varies from person to person, depending upon the quality and quantity of bone. In rare cases, implants may be restored immediately after they are placed. Dr. Thompson will advise you on follow-up care and timing. After the initial phase of healing,  a healing cap is placed onto the implant during a brief follow-up visit. This allows gum tissue to mature and provides access to the implant.

How long your mouth needs to heal is determined by a variety of factors. Follow-up care (one to four appointments) is usually needed to ensure that your mouth is healing well and to determine when you are ready for the restorative phase of your treatment.

Whether it’s one tooth or all of your teeth that are being replaced, your family dentist will complete the restoration by fitting the replacement tooth (crown) to the dental implant.

When Are Dental Implants Placed?

Implants are most often placed approximately 4 months after extraction. At times, an implant may be placed immediately after extraction of a tooth.  When infection or other considerations with the bone are present, immediate implant placement is not the best treatment. Usually the option of immediate implant placement is limited to upper anterior teeth.

If your tooth has been missing for some time, the adjacent support bone is likely to grow thinner and shrink. This occurs because the root of the natural tooth has to be present to stimulate the bone. As much as one third of your jaw’s thickness can be lost in the year following tooth extraction. If you are missing enough bone, you may benefit from having additional bone grafted into the area. This ensures the implant will be adequately supported when it is placed in the jaw.

How Many Implants Do I Need?

Most frequently, one implant per missing tooth is placed. Implants come in different shapes and sizes to most accurately match the size of the missing tooth root and the bone available.