Dental implants are an effective and popular way to replace missing teeth so your oral function is fully restored and your smile regains its brilliance. If you’re considering dental implants, you may wonder about the procedure.
Before we tell you about the dental implant procedure, let us review some life-changing benefits they offer.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants are an effective solution for those people who have lost one or even multiple teeth due to injury, decay, or other circumstances. Some advantages of dental implants are:
Improved Appearance
One of the primary advantages of dental implants is that they improve your appearance. Since they look and feel like natural teeth and can be coloured to match your existing teeth perfectly, dental implants are virtually indistinguishable from regular teeth, giving you a beautiful smile free from any obvious signs of dental work.
Long-Lasting
Dental implants also offer long-lasting results compared to alternatives such as dentures which may require frequent replacements over time. Dental implants are made from titanium alloy, which fuses with your jawbone and lasts for decades if properly cared for.
Reduced Damage To Neighbouring Teeth
Since dental implants replace missing teeth at the root level, there is no damage or wearing out of adjacent teeth due to pressure or movement that can occur with other treatments such as dentures or bridges.
Improved Oral Function
Dental implant treatment also improves oral function and comfort compared to other alternatives. Unlike removable dentures, which can slip around in the mouth, making eating and speaking difficult, dental implants are permanently attached, creating a natural feeling as if you had never experienced tooth loss at all. In addition, since they act like regular teeth, they help reduce the risk of gum disease and tooth decay because they require proper brushing and flossing, just like normal teeth do.
Low Risk
Dental implants have a very low risk of failure due to their strong attachment to the jawbone providing proper support for your bite force when chewing food or talking.
Minimal Care
Furthermore, tooth implants require minimal care once in place, apart from normal daily oral hygiene practices, such as using fluoride toothpaste twice daily with a soft-bristled brush and flossing once daily for optimal oral health maintenance.
Maintained Jawbone Health
Dental implants act like roots of natural teeth, stimulating the jaw bone and encouraging the growth of new bone cells, so your jaw remains healthy and does not lose mass due to a missing tooth.
How long is a tooth implant procedure?
We are often asked the question “How long a dental implant procedure take?” but there is no definite answer. The duration is dependent on various factors and different for each case. Generally, a dental implant procedure can take anywhere from 8 to 16 months, depending on how many implants you want, your oral health at the start of the treatment and the complexity of your case.
Here’s what you can expect during the dental implants procedure at Balmoral Dental Centre, from start to finish.
The Initial Consultation
The very first consultation for a dental implant surgery at Balmoral Dental Care is free of cost.
Our experienced dentists will conduct a detailed examination of your oral condition and determine your suitability for the treatment with the help of dental x-rays and 3D images, which will deliver a complete picture of any damage to your teeth and jawbone before proceeding with the implant treatment.
The dental team at Balmoral Dental Care will explain in detail what can be expected from the procedure, and if you are eligible for a dental implant process, our team will discuss how many implants you require and what type of implant would best suit your individual needs.
We will also discuss other treatments that may be required for a successful dental implant procedure, such as professional dental cleaning, treating and subsequently preventing tooth decay, gum disease or even a jaw bone graft.
Finally, we’ll talk about any concerns you may have regarding post-treatment care and scheduling regular maintenance visits. Dental implant cost will also be discussed so there are no surprises for you at the end of the treatment.
At Balmoral Dental Centre, our team of dental practitioners are committed to providing you with the information required to make an informed decision on whether dental implants are right for you.
Dental Implant Placement
This is the first step of the actual implant surgery, where our experienced dentist will place an implant into your jaw.
Dental implant placement is a minimally invasive surgical procedure where a metal implant post is inserted directly into the jawbone to act like a natural tooth root.
Our qualified dentist will make tiny incisions within your gum to fit the implant, and once it is in the correct position, the gum tissue will be closed with sutures to begin healing. Depending on your individual needs, multiple implants may be placed at once.
Local anesthesia or oral sedation will be used during treatment to ensure you are calm and comfortable throughout.
Over time, bone growth around the implant post will hold it firmly in place. The implant will integrate with surrounding bone tissue in a process called osseointegration which usually takes three to six months.
During this time, we may recommend follow-up visits to ensure that healing is progressing as expected and to monitor for signs of infection or any other complications. To prevent this, it is important you practice good oral hygiene and follow all instructions given by our competent dental practitioners.
You should be aware that in the first few days after the placement of a dental implant, you may experience some swelling or tenderness at the implant site; however, this is normal and should subside over time. To manage pain and discomfort and minimise the risk of infection, you will be prescribed over-the-counter medication and antibiotics, which need not be taken beyond the first few days post-surgery.
The Abutment Placement
The next step in dental implant treatment after the implant has fused with the jawbone is to place an abutment.
An abutment is a small metal connector that connects to the implant post and provides support for a new prosthetic tooth or set of teeth.
Our experienced dentist will make an incision in your gum tissue and secure the abutment to the implant post with special adhesives. Once the abutment is safely in place, they will reposition your gum tissue so that it can heal around the abutment rather than directly on it, leaving its top exposed for a new prosthetic tooth or crown.
Recovery from this procedure typically takes 4-6 weeks as your gum tissue needs time to heal properly around the abutment. During this time, our caring team at Balmoral Dental Centre will provide detailed aftercare instructions and follow-up visits if necessary to ensure that your gum tissue is healing correctly.
During this appointment, we will also use state-of-the-art dental technology to take 3D scans of your mouth so we can custom-create your replacement tooth.
The Crown Placement
After the successful placement of the implant and the abutment, our team of skilled dental professionals will attach your new prosthetic tooth or teeth to your dental implants.
These will be custom-created ceramic or porcelain teeth based on impressions taken during your prior visit. Our dentist will then affix the prosthetic teeth onto the abutment using special adhesives, ensuring they align with your existing teeth and make minor adjustments if required.
This is the last step of the implant process, and when you walk out of our clinic, you can rest assured that your new smile is perfect and your oral function is fully restored.
We may call you in for a final appointment to check for any signs of inflammation or infection, and we do recommend that you wear a protective night guard for some time to come to ensure your new teeth stay in place and to prevent any damage from bruxism if you suffer from it.
It’s crucial to note that proper aftercare is vital for long-term success, both for your oral health and the cosmetic outcome, even after your new implants are placed.
What Are Dental Implants Made Of?
Dental implants and abutments are typically made of titanium, a strong metal.
This material is highly bio-compatible with the human body; it does not cause any allergies or negative reactions in most cases. Titanium also offers excellent strength and durability, making it ideal for use in implants that need to last for many years.
Due to the superior strength and biocompatibility of titanium alloys, dentists often choose this material when providing dental implant treatments. Other materials, such as metal alloys or zirconia may sometimes be used depending on patient needs and preferences.
The prosthetic tooth itself is generally made of porcelain as it can be easily shaped to fit your dental arch and can be coloured to exactly match the shade of your natural teeth. Porcelain also has a slight sheen, which can make the prosthetic tooth indistinguishable from real teeth.
Are Dental Implants What You Need?
Dental implants are a great option for tooth replacement for people with missing or diseased teeth who want to improve their oral function and smile aesthetics. If you are conscious of
your gapped smile or showing decayed teeth, or
are having trouble eating well
not keen on removable dentures
looking for a fuss-free tooth replacement option
you could be a prime candidate for dental implants as they are designed to last for years and provide great comfort, durability, and aesthetics.
5* Dental Implant Treatment At Balmoral Dental Centre
At Balmoral Dental Care, we make every effort to ensure all our patients receive the highest quality care with the utmost attention to detail, which is why our patients are pleased to give us a 5* rating.
We only use best-in-class dental products and highly reputed laboratories to deliver aesthetically pleasing, highly durable and long-lasting results.
Our experienced dental team is dedicated to providing safe and reliable dental implant treatment to help you achieve your dream smile and fully restore oral function.
Further, the very first consultation for dental implant treatment at Balmoral Dental Centre is free of cost, so you can get all the information you need before making a decision.
Trust us for your dental implant treatment, and you will be sure to enjoy amazing results! Contact us on (07) 3113 9789 or book an appointment online today
Disclaimer: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
Resources
Dental implant surgery – Mayo Clinic
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/dental-implant-surgery/about/pac-20384622
Types of Implants & Techniques – The Dental Implant Experts
https://www.aaid-implant.org/what-are-dental-implants/types-of-implants-and-techniques/