What’s involved in the dental implants process? 

For patients with one or more missing teeth, dental implants are an effective, comfortable and long-lasting solution that provides secure, natural looking results that look and function just like real teeth.

The process itself involves 3 separate components;

● A titanium post or screw which is implanted into the jawbone

● The connector which is called an abutment is secured to the implanted screw or post

● A ceramic crown or bridge is placed on the abutment where it will function as a replacement tooth (or teeth)

The entire process can take several months to complete from start to finish depending on healing time and any additional procedures that are needed.

Dental implant treatment guide

Here is a helpful breakdown and timeline of what is involved with the process of getting dental implants Essex.

Initial Consultation and Assessments

You will have an initial meeting with your dentist or implant specialist to discuss your needs and talk through any questions or concerns you may have. They will look at your dental history and conduct a clinical examination, checking the missing or damaged teeth and the areas around them in order to determine if you are a suitable candidate for dental implants.

At this stage they may also carry out a CT scan to help identify any potential issues, gain a more detailed and accurate understanding of your teeth and assess the quality of the bone which helps to build up a comprehensive picture of your oral health.

Either at the same appointment or a follow up, your dentist will talk through the bespoke treatment plan they have created for you, with full cost breakdowns and expected timelines. This will be your opportunity to ask any questions and make sure that you are happy with everything before commencing treatment.

Preparation

Depending on the individual, some patients may require removal of an old tooth or parts of it that have been left behind in order to create a ‘clear area’ for the implant. For those who do not have enough bone to sustain an implant, bone grafts may be required to help improve the amount of healthy bone at the implant site.

Surgery

Once the patient’s jaw and mouth are ready, implant surgery will be scheduled for the post or rod to be implanted. This surgical procedure will take place under local anaesthetic but in cases where the patient requires sedation or general anaesthesia, this will need to be discussed and planned for prior to surgery so arrangements can be made.

During surgery, a titanium screw is placed directly into the jawbone where it will act as a replacement for the missing tooth root.

Healing and Recovery

Following implant surgery, healing time is crucial and generally takes around 2-6 months for the jawbone to properly fuse around the implant. During this time, the dentist may put a temporary top or crown over the implant whilst it heals to disguise gaps.

Check up and Casting

Once the implant and the jawbone are fully cohesive and everything is completely healed, impressions or casts of the mouth will be taken in order to create the new crown or bridge which will be designed to fit in seamlessly with your natural teeth.

Completion

At this final appointment, the temporary top or crown will be removed, and an abutment is attached to the dental implant on which the permanent, custom crown or bridge is then placed. Your dentist will give you advice and key information on how to care for your new implant and ask you to book in for a post-implant review so that they can check on how everything is doing, make sure you are happy with the results and ensure that there are no tweaks or adjustments that need making.

After this you are left to enjoy your new smile and get on with doing all those things that having missing teeth has held you back from!