Dental implants, according to many patients, are a painful and lengthy procedure.

The generation of such rumors is due to the fact that most people simply do not understand how implantation takes place.

In fact, implantation of teeth, according to feelings and complexity, is not much different, for example, from tooth extraction.

Unlike some dental operations, the implantation process is longer and takes from several hours to several months.

Installation of implants can be carried out, both one-stage and stage-by-stage.

Stages

A patient who decides to have an implant needs to be prepared for long and serious work.

Depending on the general condition of the body, the condition of the bone tissue, the dentist forms a general treatment plan, which includes several stages.

Some of the stages, depending on the chosen technique, can be shortened, while others, on the contrary, can be extended in time.

All this can be decided by the attending physician after examination of the patient. At the same time, there is a standard set of stages for the operation.

Allocate the main dental implantation stages:

• Preparatory stage.
• Surgical installation of a titanium structure.
• Orthopedic stage.

Each of the stages has its own characteristics and terms.

Preparatory stage

It is mandatory for all dental implantation techniques.

The duration of this stage is from several days to 2 months.

At this stage, the following is carried out:

• Collection of dental and general medical history.
• The presence of indications and contraindications for implantation is revealed.
• Inspection and rehabilitation of the oral cavity, professional brushing.
• The state of bone tissue is revealed.
• An orthopantomogram and computed tomography of the jaw are performed.
• Inspection of internal organs and systems.
• Blood tests are prescribed: a general blood test, blood for sugar, hepatitis, syphilis, HIV.
• In the presence of chronic diseases, consultation with other specialists is prescribed, if necessary, the patient is treated.

In parallel with the examination, planning of the stages of the operation is carried out.

Surgical stage

Implant implantation

It is carried out using various technologies, depending on the chosen technique.

• Before the operation, anesthesia and oral disinfection are performed.
• During surgery, a bone bed is formed in the bone using a special drill, into which the implant is screwed.
• A stub is installed on top, over which the mucous membrane of the gum is sutured.

The installation time of the titanium root is from 20 to 50 minutes.

The fusion of a titanium structure with bone is a protracted process that can take from four to six months, and sometimes even up to a year.

Video: “Surgical operation: implant placement in the jaw”

Abutment Installation

It is made after complete implant engraftment.

It is an operation in place of an implant.

The trauma of this stage is limited to a small area of ​​the mucous membrane.

• An incision is made in the gums, the implant is opened and the gum former protruding into the oral cavity is screwed to it.
• After a few days, the gingiva former is removed, after which the abutment is placed.

Prosthetics

The duration of the prosthesis installation is several hours.

Implant prosthetics allows you to fix any design, as a single dental crown, and a full-fledged design for the entire dentition.

After the implant has completely merged with the bone tissue and the abutment is installed, one of the most pleasant and long-awaited moments begins - the fixation of artificial teeth.

Depending on the implantation technique used, this stage occurs either immediately after implantation, or only after osseointegration of the implant and bone.

• First, casts from the jaws are taken.
• In the laboratory, dentition models are made.
• Artificial crowns are made on them.

Bone growth

In case of insufficiency of bone tissue before implantation, its building is carried out.

Many patients face the need for bone augmentation.

The main reason for its reduction is most often a prolonged absence of teeth, because there is no load on the bone.

And in order for the implant to be firmly fixed in the bone, it needs to be restored to its former size.

Bone grafting is done by replanting a synthetic or bone material.

The duration of bone growth is several hours, and the engraftment lasts from three months.

A large selection of modern methods using small titanium roots and various methods of implanting them allows solving the problem of implant placement during bone atrophy: at an angle to the neighboring area where there is a sufficient amount of bone tissue or to a deeper layer of bone.

After implantation

You must visit the dentist in accordance with his schedule.

• Visits to the doctor are appointed in order to assess the patient's oral hygiene.
• During the first year after implantation, the patient should undergo a routine examination at least once every three to four months.
• In the future, the visit dates will depend on the individual characteristics of the patient's oral cavity.

However, the maximum interval between doctor visits should not exceed six months.

On repeated visits, the doctor examines the soft tissues around the implants and evaluates the patient’s oral cavity.

Photo: implant placement steps

Video: “Bone grafting. Methods. "