Dental Implant Treatment Sequence

Assessment of the individual situation:

• Assessment of the general state of health
• Examination of the entire oral cavity and assessment of oral health

Information about the advantages and disadvantages of the various treatment possibilities, taking individual wishes into account depending on what is feasible and the initial medical situation.

Taking X-rays for exact planning of the operation. This is done to assess the available bone volume and determine the exact position of the implant. Computed tomography may also be used to determine the bone volume and bone quality.

For the implant to provide a firm hold for the final denture, adequate bone amount and quality are necessary.

If the investigations prior to treatment show that the amount of available bone is no longer adequate, various methods to build up the bone can be considered.

In many cases, building up the bone can be combined with insertion of the implant. Thus, it is often not necessary to carry out several operations.

The actual implantation takes only a short time. With correct preparation and implementation, the risks are minimal. Compared to extraction of a wisdom tooth, implantation is associated with fewer risks and possible complications.

Inserting a single implant usually lasts no more than 30 minutes but can also take longer depending on the difficulty.

Dental implants are usually inserted under local anesthetic as an outpatient procedure, or under general anesthetic if preferred.

To provide a stable basis for the new tooth in the long term, the implant must knit firmly with the bone. The healing period lasts 6-8 weeks on average, depending on the medical situation and bone quality and usually produces no pain or other complaints.
Regular and conscientious oral hygiene is crucial for successful healing. If the dentist’s instructions are followed, the healing period nearly always passes without problems.
In the healing period, an esthetic temporary denture fills the gap until the final denture is fitted. In a few cases and after careful investigation, it is also possible to fix the final restoration when the implant is inserted.

After healing is complete, the crown made individually for the patient in the dental laboratory is fixed to the implant. The crown can be either cemented or screwed to the implant.

Implant-borne removable dentures are secured to retainers, which the patient can remove from the mouth for cleaning.

Good oral hygiene is very important for preserving the new teeth and implants. Regular, thorough but gentle removal of plaque and tartar make a major contribution to the long-term success.

Apart from dental care at home, appropriate implant prophylaxis by a dentist is important. Regular check-ups with professional implant and tooth cleaning are recommended.