A dental implant is not done in one sitting. It happens in stages, with healing time in between. Here is what each stage involves, why it takes a few months, and what to ask before you start.
If you have lost a tooth, an implant is one way to replace it. Knowing the steps of the dental implant procedure helps you plan your time and ask the right questions. The longest part is not the treatment itself, it is the healing in between. For how implants are done at Pristine Dental Clinic, see our page on dental implants in HSR Layout.
A dental implant is a tooth replacement for a missing tooth. It has three parts:
The first visit is to find out if an implant suits you. The dentist looks at your mouth, your gums and the space where the tooth was. An X-ray shows how much bone there is, because the post needs enough healthy bone to hold it.
Cleveland Clinic lists things that can make implants a poor choice or need extra care, such as untreated gum disease, a lot of tooth decay, severe bone loss in the jaw, diabetes that is not under control, and smoking. It also says the usual minimum age is 18, because the jaw must have finished growing. Tell the dentist about any health conditions and medicines at this visit.
At the end, you should know the plan, the number of visits and the cost.
The area is numbed first with local anaesthesia. Cleveland Clinic says you should not feel pain during the surgery. The dentist makes a small incision in the gum to expose the bone, prepares a space in the bone, places the post, and closes the incision, often with a few stitches.
If the gap is at the front, you may be given a temporary tooth so that you do not have a gap while it heals. At the back, this is often not needed. The dentist will tell you what to expect for your tooth.
This is the stage that takes the most time. The jawbone slowly grows around the post and holds it firmly. This is called osseointegration. Cleveland Clinic says this can take anywhere from three to nine months, depending on how quickly your body heals. The first round of healing, when the gum settles, takes about a week.
During this time, the dentist checks on your progress. You can usually go about your normal day, but follow the care advice you are given, and keep the area clean.
Once the post is firm, the abutment is attached, and then the crown is fitted on top. The crown is made to match the shade of your other teeth. Cleveland Clinic says this step usually takes about an hour, and may need a second small procedure on the gum.
After that, you clean the implant like your other teeth, with brushing, cleaning between the teeth, and regular check-ups. Cleveland Clinic says the crown or bridge on an implant may need replacing at some point, so ask the dentist how to look after yours.
Not everyone goes straight from the first check to placing the post. Some people need treatment first, for example for gum disease or a tooth that still needs to come out. Others may not have enough bone where the post needs to go. Cleveland Clinic says the dentist may then place a bone graft to build up the bone first. In these cases the plan has more stages and takes longer. The dentist explains this at the first check, so the timeline you hear is the one for you.
You can read Cleveland Clinic's full guide to dental implant treatment.
At Pristine Dental Clinic, these are answered at the first check, before any treatment starts.
Thinking about an implant?
Book a first check at Pristine Dental Clinic in HSR Layout. The dentist will tell you if an implant suits you, the steps for your case, and the cost.
Cannot find your question here? Call the clinic and the team will answer.
Call 090193 67756Often, yes. Cleveland Clinic says the surgeon closes the incision in the gum with stitches after placing the implant. The dentist tells you how to care for them and when to come back.
Usually a few months. Cleveland Clinic says the bone can take three to nine months to grow around the post. If you need treatment first, such as for gum disease, it takes longer. The dentist gives you your own timeline at the first check.
Cleveland Clinic says implants can last for many years with brushing, flossing and regular dental visits. The crown, bridge or denture on top may need replacing at some point, and it says most crowns and bridges last around 15 years.
The area is numbed before the post is placed. Cleveland Clinic says you should not feel pain during the surgery, and the first round of healing takes about a week. The dentist tells you how to care for the area afterwards.
Cleveland Clinic lists untreated gum disease, a lot of tooth decay, severe bone loss in the jaw, diabetes that is not under control, and smoking as things that can make implants harder. The usual minimum age is 18. A dentist decides after a check.
Clean it like your other teeth: brush, clean between your teeth, and go for regular check-ups. Tell the dentist if the implant feels loose, or the gum around it bleeds, swells or hurts.
Pristine Dental Clinic, 1703, 19th Main Road, Sector 2, HSR Layout. Open every day, 9 am to 12 midnight.
Call 090193 67756This article gives general information. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace a check by a dentist. If you have swelling near your eye or neck, or trouble breathing, swallowing or speaking, go to a hospital emergency department straight away.
A dental clinic in Sector 2, HSR Layout, Bengaluru, led by Dr. Athhar Maswood K. Open every day, 9 am to 12 midnight.
Call 090193 67756