Prior to implant placement, we will assess the health of any existing teeth and the gums for you. Using our x-rays and 3D scan, we will assess the quality of the bone and any nearby anatomical structures to avoid prior to drilling. Implant procedures are usually carried out under local anaesthetic but you may have IV sedation if it is a lengthy procedure or you are apprehensive in any way.
In the site where the implant is to be placed, local anaesthetic is given, a gum flap is raised and a small hole is drilled in accordance with the measurements taken using the x-rays/scan. The titanium implant is screwed into the socket and a healing cap will be placed on it. The gum is then stitched back together with sutures. If there is insufficient bone, then it may be necessary for a bone graft using either synthetic bone or surgically taking bone from one part of the jaw to another.
Once the implant has been placed, it is left to heal and osseointegrate within the jawbone; this is where the bone tissue fuses with the outer surface of the implant. It can take from six weeks up to six months approximately. We find with most of our dental implant cases that the average healing period is around eight weeks.
You may have a temporary restoration to compensate for the missing tooth/teeth during the healing period.
After the healing period has elapsed, our dentist will take impressions of the implant(s) and then seven days later the final restoration is fitted.
At Gentle Dental Care, we are confident that we can offer you the answers to your oral problems; if any implant fails, we will replace it free of charge. We want you to have confidence in us as the experts and we are proud of our current success rate.