Understanding Restorations: The Dental Implant Placement Process Explained

Missing teeth are much more than an aesthetical concern: they can trigger a series of oral health issues that break the delicate balance of your mouth. To restore your chewing and speaking abilities and prevent further damage, dentists recommend getting dental implants in Panama City, FL.

Implants are a long-lasting and reliable restoration that imitates the structure of your natural teeth. Inserting an artificial tooth root into the jawbone lets you eat all your favorite foods without worrying about your restoration shifting, loosening, or falling. Still, this structure also complicates the implant placement process, and here we’ll explain it in detail.    

Understanding the Dental Implant Process

Dental implants are a tooth restoration method that consists of a titanium screw placed into the jawbone. On top, a customized dental crown is attached, designed to match your surrounding teeth in shape, color, and feel. By inserting the “fake root” into the jawbone, implants offer unparalleled stability and long-lasting benefits.  

However, this also makes it fundamental to have a highly structured and detailed placement process—designed to ensure long-term success and integration with your natural bone. Here's a step-by-step journey most patients experience when getting dental implants:  

1. Initial Consultation & Assessment

Because implants must fuse to your jawbone, good oral health is mandatory before considering this treatment. For that reason, the process will begin with a detailed consultation, where we’ll:

• Go over your medical and dental history review  
• Make oral exams and 3D imaging (CBCT scans or X-rays) to assess bone density and structure  
• Design a customized treatment planning  

If bone volume is insufficient, your dentist may recommend bone grafting to build support for the implant.  

2. Tooth Extraction

If the implant replaces a damaged or decayed tooth, the original tooth will be carefully extracted. Depending on the bone condition, the implant can sometimes be placed immediately after extraction.  

3. Bone Grafting or Sinus Lift (if required)  

Bone grafting can be explored for patients with inadequate bone height or density. This procedure involves adding synthetic material or your own bone to the area to build volume. We may perform a sinus lift when the implant needs to be placed in the upper jaw.  

Afterward, the bone will heal around the added material, increasing in density. However, this will lengthen the treatment duration, adding around 3 to 6 months.  

4. Implant Placement Surgery  

Once the bone has healed, it’s time for implant surgery. During it, the gums are opened with a small incision, and the dental implant—a small titanium post—is surgically inserted into the jawbone. We use local anesthesia or sedation during the process to prevent discomfort.  

The gum will then be stitched back over the implant. Afterward, the osseointegration process begins, in which the implant fuses with the jawbone. It can take 3 to 6 months, but forming a rock-solid foundation is crucial.  

5. Abutment Placement  

Once the implant is integrated, we'll place the abutment, which works as a small connector between the implant and the final crown. We will gently re-open the gum for its placement, and then there will be a short healing period.  

6. Final Restoration  

Once all the soft tissue has healed, we will take impressions of your mouth to create the final customized crown. This ensures a perfect fit, prevents bacteria buildup in the small spaces between teeth, and allows for a natural look.  

Once the final restoration is finished, we’ll secure the final prosthetic to the abutment. Now, you have a new artificial tooth that will look and function like a natural one!  

Explore Dental Implants in Panama City, FL  

The process of getting implants can be long and involve several steps, but precise care during each one allows us to ensure a successful outcome. Beyond the challenges, implant dentistry is a great solution for patients who have lost one or several teeth and want to recover their mouth’s functionality as close to normal as possible.

While the process may seem difficult, a detailed exam at the beginning is crucial to analyzing your situation and gauging how the overall process will pan out. If you want to see how that will look, contact Forest Park Dental today!