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