Patient Education Guide on Dental Implants

"What is a Dental Implant?"

The best way to describe a dental implant is to compare it to a real tooth. A natural tooth consists of a root and a crown. The part of the tooth that you see and eat with is the crown. Beneath the crown is a root, which anchors the tooth through the gum tissue to the jawbone. When you lose a tooth, you lose both the root and the crown. To replace the tooth, we first have to replace the root.

Essentially a dental implant is a new root. This root (made of titamium) is fitted into a socket that we create in your jaw, replacing the lost root of your natural tooth. Over time, the new 'root' integrates into your jaw bone, at which time the new, permanent 'crown' is placed.

The Four Phases of a Dental Implant

Phase I: Placement of Implant fixture (ie metal root, metal screw).

Type of Anesthesia: General (ie to be asleep) recommended.
Local or Nitrous are other options.

Phase II: Uncovering of Implant fixture through gums and placement of
temporary healing abutment (ie tissue shaper).

Healing time: Usually 1 month.

Type of Anesthesia: Usually Local (ie Novacaine only). 

Phase III: Replacing of temporary healing abutment with final
abutment (ie crown foundation). Impressions taken.

Healing time: None (if gums well-heeled, may take final crown impression anytime from this point on.)

Type of Anesthesia: None usually required.

Phase IV: Implant Crowns/Bridges/Overdentures placed over final abutment.

Healing time: None (usually takes 1-2 weeks for lab to return implant crown/bridges/overdentures to dentist).

Type of Anesthesia: None usually required.