Dental Implants

If necessary, your dentist will begin by extracting your damaged tooth or teeth in question. Afterwards, your dentist will examine the bone structure in the area where the dental implant will be placed. If there is not enough bone or the bone is considered not strong enough to support the dental implant, your dentist will need to insert a so-called bone graft (see below).

Once your bone is ready and strong enough to support it, your dental implant will be inserted. The surgery will be followed by a healing period that can take a few months. Afterwards, an abutment will be placed on the dental implant – essentially a connector between the artificial root and the artificial tooth that will be placed on it.

Finally, your artificial tooth will be placed on the abutment.

Bone Grafts

As mentioned above, bone grafting oral surgery may be required when your bone structure cannot sufficiently support your dental implant. But what exactly is bone grafting and how does it work?

A bone graft essentially replaces lost bone. The bone is usually taken from another part of your body and transplanted into the jawbone. However, there are also other options available today, including synthetic material or animal bone. It is best to consult with your dentist to discuss the options available to you.

Once the bone material has been chosen, your dentist will connect it to your existing bone. The procedure is followed by a significant healing period. Only once the jawbone has recovered and grown can the dental implant be inserted.

While both, bone grafting and dental implant oral surgery, may sound painful, they are actually pain-free procedures with local anaesthesia. While post-surgery infections are certainly possible, the risk of such can be curtailed by taking prescribed antibiotics, good oral hygiene and following your dentist’s post-surgery care instructions.

Contact us today if you have any questions or concerns about dental implants or bone grafts, or want to explore whether these options are right for you.