Teeth Implants - Surgical Procedure  

Dental implants are a tooth restoration option, which is popular for its durability, longevity and convenience. The surgical procedure for the placement of an implant requires the bone to be first prepared using precision drills or a hand osteotome. After that, the bone is left to osseointegrate with the implant for a few months. When osseointegration is complete, prosthetic crowns can be mounted to the teeth implants.

 

Below is an outline of the procedure usually followed for placing dental implants, in most cases:

 

• A pilot hole is bored into the bone at the edentulous site, taking care to avoid sensitive structures, like the inferior alveolar nerve or the mental foramen.
• 2. This pilot hole is widened using progressively wider drills. Generally, most implant dentists prefer around three to seven successive drilling steps, depending on the size and thickness of the teeth implant.
• 3. A cooling saline or water spray is used during drilling, to ensure that the osteoblast or bone cells are not damaged by overheating. This spray keeps the bone temperature below 47 degrees Celsius.
• 4. The dental implant screw is then screwed into place at a precise torque, so that the bone around it is not overloaded. If the bone gets overloaded it may die, resulting in a condition called osteonecrosis, which may lead to implant failure.

 

Generally, the drilled pilot hole is around 1mm deeper than the teeth implant that is being fitted, due to the shape of the drill tip. Implant dentists must take this extra length into consideration, while drilling in the vicinity of sensitive nerves and other vital structures.

 

In most cases, the procedure for fitting a single dental implant can be completed in about one to two hours. The exact time taken depends on various factors, such as:

 

• The position of the missing tooth in the jaw.
• The quality and quantity of bone in the jaw.
• The experience of the dental implants.
• The complexity of the individual case.

 

The Harley Street Dental Clinic is a leading centre of dentistry in central London, which is experienced in placing dental implants. The highly skilled team of dentists at The Harley Street Dental Clinic are dedicated to making teeth implant treatments as pain-free and comfortable as possible. The clinic has been featured in leading national press like the BBC, The Guardian and The London Evening Standard.

 

The Harley Street Dental Clinic is one of UK's leading teeth implant clinics, and can be contacted on 020 7486 1059 or info@hsdc.net.