| The Procedure | | | | restorative dentist will be required to |
| | | | complete the process during the later visits. |
| A dental implant procedure is not a one visit | | | | |
| process, typically taking several visits to | | | | Implantologists are qualified to perform the |
| one or more dental experts. As with any | | | | entire procedure themselves, from beginning |
| medical procedure, the first step is to find | | | | to end. |
| a qualified, skillful, and trustworthy | | | | |
| surgeon to perform your dental implant | | | | Long-term Success |
| procedure. Having a capable dentist can be | | | | |
| the deciding factor of whether or not you | | | | Overall, dental implant procedures have about |
| will be pleased with the results. | | | | a 90% success rate, and many last more than |
| | | | 20 years. With good oral hygiene, your dental |
| First, the dentist will take x-rays of your | | | | implants can last you a lifetime. |
| mouth and perform a thorough oral | | | | |
| examination. Typically, the dentist will | | | | The success of your procedure also depends on |
| administer a local anesthetic to ease any | | | | the quality and quantity of bone available to |
| discomfort during the operation. A pilot hole | | | | the dental surgeon. The better the bone, and |
| is then bored into the jawbone, to allow for | | | | the more of it, the better the chances of a |
| the placement of the implant. | | | | complete success. |
| | | | |
| After the hole is drilled, the implant is | | | | The quality of the restorative prosthesis |
| inserted into position. The implant is left | | | | placed on top of the implant is also a major |
| for around four months to fuse into the | | | | factor affecting the success of your |
| jawbone through a natural process known as | | | | procedure. If the design of the crown, |
| Osseo integration. | | | | over-dentures, or other prostheses are poorly |
| | | | constructed or poorly designed, the biting |
| After a few months, and when the implant has | | | | forces of the mouth will not be balanced and |
| fused securely to the bone, the dentist will | | | | may cause complications in the future. |
| then attach the post to the implant. The post | | | | |
| is the support for the synthetic replacement | | | | Who Does NOT Qualify for Dental Implants? |
| or replacements. | | | | |
| | | | Some medical conditions or specific physical |
| The last part of the procedure is known as | | | | characteristics may make it impossible or |
| the restorative phase. This is when the | | | | dangerous to have a dental implant procedure |
| dentist will take impressions and create the | | | | performed. |
| necessary prosthesis that will attach to the | | | | |
| implant or implants. This process normally | | | | People who suffer from uncontrolled diabetes, |
| take several visits in itself. | | | | parathyroid disorders, blood disorders, rare |
| | | | bone disorders, or bone marrow cancer should |
| Qualified Dentists | | | | not consider getting dental implants. Also, |
| | | | those undergoing or who recently have |
| You may find that you will have to see | | | | undergone chemotherapy or other radiation |
| several different dentists in order to | | | | therapy should avoid this procedure. |
| complete your dental implant procedure. | | | | |
| Periodontists and oral surgeons are both | | | | Some with certain physical characteristics |
| qualified to perform the first part of the | | | | such as insufficient or poor quality bone, |
| process, placing the implant or implants. If | | | | low sinuses, or low nerve bundles may also |
| a periodontist or oral surgeon is used to | | | | not qualify for dental implant procedures. |
| complete the implant procedure, then a | | | | |