Receive a replacement root to hold a tooth.
If you are missing teeth, your dentist may recommend dental implants to replace them. Dental implants are made to look and act like real teeth. This is done to preserve the functions of biting and chewing and to maintain the structural integrity of the mouth. It is also cosmetically enhancing.
An implant consists of a metal post inserted into the jaw topped with a replacement tooth. There are several steps to the implant process. Your dentist will refer you to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon for the surgical steps of the implant, the first of which is known as the implant placement procedure.
The implant placement is usually done in two phases. The first surgical phase establishes the root system of your new tooth by implanting a titanium or zirconium post into the jawbone. This surgery is done under complete IV sedation in our office. The jaw must heal completely before the next step.
After the jaw has healed, our oral surgeon implements the second phase, installing the abutment. The gum is opened up over the implant and the abutment is attached. The abutment is the connecting piece between your new tooth and the implant rooted in the jawbone. This procedure can usually be done with a local anesthetic. Depending on the visibility of the tooth, you can opt to have both phases done at once. Our cone beam technology provides a complete scan of bone, teeth, nerves, sinuses and soft tissue that enables our surgeon to plan and perform with unparalleled precision. After this step is done and you have healed, you will return to your dentist for the finishing implant steps of the tooth placement.