Dental Implant Placement

Dental Implant Placement

Diagnoses and decision making:

After carefully gathering enough information at the consultation appointment, the specialist assesses the treatment options available to you. This sometimes takes more than a single visit for the more complex cases.

The advantages and disadvantages of the various options are carefully and openly discussed, so that you are well-informed on every aspect of the procedure before making your decision.

Enough bone must be present for implant placement to be successful. However, for many patients the amount of bone is not quite sufficient, and these cases will require a small bone graft - a very common and straightforward procedure at Blackhills Clinic. This type of bone loss is often seen where the previous tooth had infection (an abscess) or has been missing for more than a few weeks and the bone has receded.

Implant placement:

Under local anaesthetic (freezing the gum) the surgeon creates a suitable site in the jaw bone, and the implant is inserted. A few stitches are placed to close the site and a small protective cap covers the implant during the healing phase.

Healing period:

After a week or two, the stitches are removed. Careful oral hygiene and cleaning around the implant is now vital for successful healing.

It usually takes between 6 weeks and a few months for the bone to become securely attached to the implant. Each case is different, and this healing period is always longer where bone grafting is required.

Custom-made restoration (crown, bridge or denture):

Once the bone has bonded onto the implant (termed “osseointegration”), one of the specialists and a master technician work together to create the customised restoration.

Fit of the restoration:

The final restoration is connected securely to the implant, leaving you free to smile, bite and chew as before.