Overview of Implant Placement

The Surgical Procedure

The procedure to place a typical implant takes 30 to 45 minutes and is often completed very comfortably under local anesthesia.  The number of appointments and time required, vary from patient to patient. Dr. Boerman will bring great precision and attention to the details of your case.

Prior to surgery, you may receive antibiotics and if desired intravenous sedation or nitrous oxide (laughing gas) can be administered for greater comfort. These options are discussed with you at your consultation appointment. A local anesthetic will be administered to prevent you from feeling any pain in the area where the implant will be placed.

Dr. Boerman makes a small incision in the gum tissue to reveal the bone, creates space using special instruments, and gently inserts the titanium implant. A “cap” is often placed on the implant to make it visible through the gum.  Your dentist will remove the cap when it is time to make the crown.  Sometimes it is better in the early stages of healing to have the implant covered by the gum tissue. After the initial phase of healing, the surgeon places a healing “cap” onto the implant during a brief follow-up visit (second stage surgery). This allows gum tissue to mature and provides access to the implant for your dentist to make the crown..

The Healing Phase

Healing time varies from person to person, depending upon the quality and quantity of bone. In some cases, implants may be restored immediately after they are placed. Dr. Boerman uses Osstell implant stability technology to make decisions about how quickly you can see your dentist for the final restoration.

It may be beneficial to perform a soft tissue graft to obtain stronger, more easily cleaned and natural appearing gum tissue in the area around the implant. This process involves moving a small amount of gum tissue from one part of your mouth to the area around the implant.

When Are Dental Implants Placed?

Implants are often placed several months after extraction. At times, an implant may be placed immediately after extraction of a tooth. This may involve a little more risk, but it simplifies the process—you won’t have to wait for another appointment to place the implant. When infection or other problems with the tooth or bone are present, immediate implant placement is not the best treatment.

If your tooth has been missing for some time, the adjacent support bone is likely to grow thinner or shrink. This occurs because the root of the natural tooth has to be present to stimulate the bone. As much as one third of your jaw’s thickness can be lost in the year following tooth extraction. If you are missing  bone,you may need bone graft reconstruction surgeries to ensure that the implant will be adequately supported when it is placed in the jaw.

How Many Implants Do I Need?

Most frequently, one implant per missing tooth is placed. Because many of the larger teeth in the back of your jaws have two or three roots, the most common approach is to replace missing back teeth with larger implants.