After tooth extraction, the preferred restorative procedure is the placement of dental implants. Dental implants have been used since 1965.Constant developments in medical science have led to them being one of the safest surgical procedures, with a great degree of success (>95%). They are now considered the best method to restore tooth loss.
A dental implant consists of three parts:
Is implant placement painful?
As in every surgical procedure, local anesthesia is applied during implant placement, with the result being a painless procedure.
Post-operationally, the patient will be provided with analgesics according to their doctor’s instructions in order to minimize any possible pain. Even taking into consideration the fact that each person’s pain threshold differs, most patients will be able to manage post-operational pain with a mild analgesic.
In which cases is implant placement applicable?
In order for a dental implant to be placed, a sufficient bone substrate is needed for support. If that is not the case, augmentation techniques using bone grafts may be considered to make implant placement possible.
Since there are instances in which implant placement may not be applicable,at least without other procedures first being applied, the complete and detailed medical and dental historyof the patient must be provided. Through the clinical and radiological examination of the patient, and the careful study of their medical and dental history the dentist will be able to provide answers to any of your questions.
Length of treatment
Depending on the particularities of each case, treatment may last from a day to a year. Factors such as the possible need for grafts, low bone density, smoking, etc, can result in a lengthier treatment.
Immediate Implant Placement
In some cases, and under certain conditions, it is possible for an implant to be placed at the exact day the corresponding tooth is extracted.
It will remain covered by the gums until it is completely integrated with the bone, a process lasting 3-4 months, after which e prosthetic restoration can be finalized.
Immediate Loading
In some cases, prosthetic restoration can be applied the day of implant placement or the day after with no waiting time for osseointegration needed, but only if all the required conditions are met. As such, this procedure is not applicable to every case and patient.
