The dentist places the implant, waits a bit, and then attaches the crown.
Is the dental implant process really that simple, or is there more to it?
The traditional implant is actually hollow – like a dowel or anchor used in construction. When we talk about implantation, we refer to the insertion of this piece into the bone. The classic method is as follows:
- the doctor opens the gum to precisely see the extent,
- drills the desired depth hole with a water-cooled drill,
- screws in the implant,
- and then inserts a closing screw to prevent bacteria from entering the hollow part of the implant.
After this, you have to wait for 3-4 months. Then comes the next phase of the implantation. Another incision is made in the gum, and a gingival shaping screw replaces the closing screw. This screw serves to create a transitional zone on the gum. In the Nobel Biocare N1 system used at our dental clinic, Smile and Teeth, this screw is designed to stay in place, eliminating the need for further interference in deeper areas. Its surface is shaped to allow the gum to adhere to the titanium surface. This system is called the N1 Base. In other systems, this needs to be unscrewed to proceed with the next steps.
After a week, the dentist takes an impression of the implants as well as the surrounding and opposing teeth using a special impression head. To do this, a technical analogue is formed into the model at the appropriate angle and height to ensure the finished teeth fit as closely as possible to the adjacent teeth. These crowns are often designed with a hole on top, allowing them to be secured with a screw. They can be removable if necessary.
All in all, each of these steps, including check-ups, can be quite time-consuming. It can require at least 6-8 visits to the dentist and the process lasts about 3 – 4 months.
The question is, who has the time and energy for this? Fortunately, in many cases, we can omit a few steps from this dental implant process.
If a dentist can perform the implant so that it is placed in the bone in such a way that its primary stability is sufficient, the screws can be immediately loaded. Of course, the doctor must consider the fact that due to the physiology of the bone, screw stability decreases in the first 3-6 weeks, and the gum always retracts after surgery. The extent of this is unpredictable. Therefore, greater care and attention on the part of the patient is required in such cases. To reduce the load, usually long-term temporary teeth are made, which should be replaced after six months to a year. In the lower and posterior regions where gum recession is not visible, permanent crowns can sometimes be made immediately. Usually, multiple implants are placed in such cases.
But there are other other options for those who want a simpler, faster solution. Also, if you prefer fewer interventions you can have a different dental implant process. If you have many missing teeth and would be satisfied with a more basic aesthetic, then a one-piece implant is recommended. These must be implanted according to the principles of strategicTM corticobasal implantology. One-piece implants are always loadable immediately as they are in one piece, and their heads always protrude from the bone. The implantations of these implants must be planned so that the dentist achieves the desired primary stability, and the system does not move more than 5 tenths of a millimeter during chewing. This requires great skill from both the dentist and the dental technician to create a chewing scheme that meets these conditions.
Of course, patients must also pay close attention and especially care for their dental health over the course of implantology treatments. In case of the slightest abnormality, they should immediately consult a dentist because if the implant moves once, it will never fix itself.