What are the steps for dental implants?
Dental implants have emerged as one of the best alternatives to replace missing teeth, as they closely mimic natural teeth, and do not affect the adjacent teeth and surrounding tissues, but rather work to replace the roots of missing teeth. In this article, we will know together what are the steps for dental implants in detail.
The process of dental implants goes through many stages, and we find the order as follows:
Getting rid of a broken or infected tooth.
The use of artificial bone, if necessary.
Placement of the implant within the jaw bone.
Osseointegration, wound healing.
Abutment cover.
Molar installation.
First visit:
The doctor begins by examining the area where he will place the implant, and it may require taking many photographs, taking measurements of the mouth to obtain a template that simulates the shape of the jaw for study, in addition to taking X-ray films of the tooth to be replaced with implants.
The doctor will ask the patient to take other types of x-ray films, known as panorama, through which he can better see the bones, assess the condition of the tooth to be replaced, and its location in relation to the nerve canal if it is a lower molar, or the sinuses if it is an upper molar.
In some cases, we need a CT scan as well, to help the doctor assess the quality and quantity of bone in the transplant area.
Second visit:
In the next visit, the doctor removes the broken or worn out tooth, or sometimes it is just a remaining root that must be disposed of, after ensuring that the patient is fit for the implant, and setting the appropriate treatment plan.
The patient is anesthetized with local anesthesia, so that he does not feel any pain, during all the steps of the dental implant process, from extraction to the installation step, and sedatives can also be used if necessary for the mother, so that the patient feels comfortable and not anxious.
The doctor makes a small cut in the gums, through which he can expose the bone, and reach a deep part in it, to place the implant made of titanium metal inside the bone, using special tools and drills, then he puts a healing cap on the implant. This cover works to help the bone and gum tissue to fuse with the implant, and it also protects the top of the implant from the build-up of tartar and food residue on it.
The doctor closes the place of implantation with medical sutures, then we wait for the period of fusion of the implant and the bone, to act as a strong support for the final structure after that.
This period ranges from 2-6 months depending on the quality of the bone. During this period, temporary artificial teeth can be designed to replace teeth that have been extracted from a cosmetic point of view only. However, during this period, the implant must not be subjected to any pressure or force until complete healing.
Third visit:
The patient follows up with the doctor after the operation, to ensure that there is no infection in the implant site, and to check on the progress of the healing process.
After the healing period ends, the doctor tests the implant to ensure the success of the implantation process, the stability of the implant in its place, and its ability to withstand the force of chewing.
The doctor completes the replacement process by attaching an upper part to the implant, then designing the appropriate fitting, whether it is a crown or a bridge.
Transported
