How are dental implants placed?

Dental implants are the most effective solution to missing teeth in modern dentistry. They restore feel, function, and formality to your mouth because they look, work, and feel like real teeth. We understand that dental implants can signify quite the investment in both time and money to some patients, but they’re much more accessible than you may think. For example, do you know how dental implants are placed? Do you assume the process is a series of big, scary surgeries? Think again!

Dental Implants Consultation

The first step in the dental implant process is your initial consultation. At Lion Dental Centre in Stourbridge, we’re proud to have our very own tooth implant expert, Mario Veltri, who is highly experienced in implant placement. Mario will carry out an in-depth consultation and assessment to determine your treatment course and suitability. Most patients in good general health are suitable for dental implants, but we like to be thorough.

Your Assessment

We’ll carry out a full examination of your mouth and teeth, take x-rays and impressions, and enquire about your medical history. This also gives you the chance to ask any questions you have and find out more about the implant process. From these x-rays and impressions, we begin to plan the treatment process. This includes planning the optimum placement for the dental implant and the bone quality at the site.

Dental Implant Placement

Placing the dental implants comes in two steps: root and crown. This is the part that most people think will be daunting, and we understand why, but we’d like to put your mind at ease. Under a local anaesthetic (yes, no being put to sleep) we place the titanium root into the jaw bone and gum, which forms the stable foundation. We then need to wait a little while, between 3-6 months, for this part to fully heal and integrate into the bone. After this time, we fit the permanent crown onto the implant. The crown is the part that looks like a real tooth and is made of sturdy and colour-matched material to make sure it blends into your teeth. We use your x-rays and impressions to ensure they’re the same shape, size, and tone as the rest of your natural teeth.

And that’s it! That’s how you fit a dental implant. Because it involves a minor surgical incision into the gum and drilling into the jaw bone, it often gets confused with far bigger procedures. It is in fact a lot easier and a lot less invasive than some patients originally thought.

Will I be suitable?

The only drawback for some patients is jaw bone density. Because we need a strong foundation for the root to fit into, it’s particularly important for us to find a secure jawbone. If we don’t, there are certain methods to increase bone density that we will discuss with you in the planning stage. If suitable, dental implants have been known to increase bone density because they encourage the bone to compact around the root and fuse with it.

How to get started

There’s no need to be intimidated by dental implants when they’re as accessible and as safe as this in Stourbridge. If you’ve been putting off replacing your missing teeth because you’re worried about the procedure, then fear not. Lion Dental Centre offers expert treatment, support, and maintenance advice for all patients. Book your consultation today to find out how replacing your missing teeth with dental implants will change the way you smile, chew, and talk.

Call 01384 376336 to speak to a friendly member of our team or enquire online today.