Dental Implants

How Are They Placed

Firstly the gum has to be peeled back; a cut is made in the gum to allow this.

The dentist will then peel back your gum slightly so he can see the bone.

A special drill is used to make a hole in the bone. Several different types are used to make the hole the right size.

Once this has been completed the implant is fitted into the bone. It should fit tightly.

Once the implant is placed into the bone a special cover is fastened on top of it. This protects the implant.

The gum is then stitched back in place and allowed to heal.

Once the implant has been placed the patient must wait several months before a crown can be placed on top. During this period the implant is unloaded and it is allowed to integrate with the bone and gain strength. This period may take up to 9 months in the upper jaw but can be as low as 3 months in the lower jaw.

When the implant is ready, the dentist will expose it by cutting the gum that covers the top of it. Some systems don't require this as they have a special cap on the top of the implant which always sticks out of the gum. The top has a screw thread in it which allows special caps or the final tooth to be fixed into place.