Types of dental implants:
1. Conventional:
• Implants are placed into the bone and left in place for 3-9 months. Following this the implant is loaded with a crown so that patient can use it for regular chewing like natural teeth.
• The waiting period of 3-9 months allows the implant to fuse with the hard and soft tissues in the mouth. Implants are made from materials that are safe for the body, such as titanium.
• Implants are surgically inserted deep into the jawbone, where they replace tooth roots. An implant can be used to anchor one or more teeth.
2. Cortical/basal (going through the bone)
• This type of implant is inserted below the gum line and drilled deep into the jawbone.
• They are placed in such a way that they go deep till the end of the jaw bone.
• One of the advantages of basal implants is that the teeth can be replaced within days. However, not all teeth may be indicated for basal implants.
Procedure followed by our Implantologists
The dental implant procedure requires several steps over a period of about 3 to 9 months. The procedure followed by us is given below:
1. Evaluation:
• The initial stage will be an examination of your teeth, gums, and jawbone.
• There will also be a determination of whether you have enough healthy jaw bone to support the implant is a critical element of this first evaluation. For the purpose of evaluation of bone, you dentist will ask you to get a CBCT (commonly called as a CT scan) to evaluate the bone thickness and quality of bone.
• Dental implant surgery is generally performed on an outpatient basis. All procedures are generally done under local anaesthesia.
2. Placing the Implant:
For an implant, the following procedures will be carried out:
• The dentist will cut the gum tissue, exposing the jawbone underneath.
• Holes will be drilled into the bone where the implant will be inserted.
• The implant is left in place for 3-9 months to allow the implant to fuse with the surrounding bone.
3. Post-operative care after dental implant placement:
• There is a possibility of having some soreness and swelling after receiving any type of implant. The majority of people find that they may resume their normal activities the next day after receiving a dental implant. Intermittent ice packs placed for 15 minutes every hour for the first 24 hours reduces the swelling.
• Please take the medicines as prescribed by the dentist.
• Try to eat only soft and cold food for the first 24 hours after the surgery.
• Do not spit for the first 24 hours after the surgery. Swallow blood or saliva is present in your mouth. Repeated spitting would only increase the amount of bleeding and delay the healing.
• Do not brush the operated area for the first 3 days after the surgery. Even though you do not brush, care should be taken to keep the area clean to prevent infection. Daily use of the prescribed mouthwash is advised. A clean gauze/cotton roll can also be used to gently clean the surgical site.
• Please report back to the dentist for removal of the stitches after 1 week.
4. Abutment placement:
• After waiting for a period of 3-9 months, when the implant has been fused with the bone and gums, crown will be screwed onto the dental implant.
• Prior to this an attachment called an abutment will be placed on the implant.
• The gum tissue will then form a border around the abutment. Gums will take a week or two to heal after abutment is placed.
5. Placing the Tooth:
• After your tissues have healed, we will take an impression of them so that your permanent replacement tooth or teeth can be created to fit perfectly.
• Your new teeth will look and feel natural.
• Daily brushing, flossing and/or waterflosser (Waterpik) use is recommended by most dentists.
• Make sure to visit the dentist frequently for check-ups.
