Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantology
Director of Implant Dentistry at Chatswood Dental - The Smile Institute and Consultant in Implant Dentistry to SmileCare Family Dentists
The Procedure
What is the procedure like?
There are actually two phases to implant dentistry:
Phase 1:
Using very accurate surgical techniques, an incision is made in the gum tissues and implants are placed into dimensionally controlled sites (depth and width) in the jawbone. The gum tissues are then closed and the healing phase begins. This may take anywhere from 3-6 months to ensure a strong base.
Phase 2:
Creating and fixing the new tooth (or teeth) to the implant structure constitutes the second and final phase. Implants can replace a single tooth, several teeth or your dentures.
The Process
Natural teeth are comprised of the visible crown and the supporting root(s) as depicted in this image.
Replacement of missing teeth requires the surgical placement of titanium implants in the jawbone to take the place of the root and usually around 6 months later, a porcelain tooth is fabricated to take the place of the natural crown.
Implants come in various sizes suitable for different areas of the mouth. These sizes vary from 5 - 18mm in length and 1.8 - 6.5 mm in diameter.
Most implants are cylindrical in form but some are designed to mimic natural roots by tapering in the lower half. Irrespective of the external shape, the implant itself is best left undisturbed in the gum for 3 to 6 months. After that time, a core is screwed into the central hollow of the implant and tightly locked in by virtue of a precision fitting hexagonal lock that ewther fits into the implant or onto the implant. The porcelain crown is then fabricated and cemented onto this core to provide a life-like appearance and natural function.
Therefore the three steps to recreating a natural tooth are:
Surgical placement of the titanium implant.
Connection of the central core called an “abutment”.
Cementation of the porcelain crown.
Implants can be used to:
Replace a
Single tooth with a porcelain crown
Replace Multiple teeth with a bridge
Or to stabilise a loose denture when
connected together with a gold bar
Mini Dental Implant
One of the latest developments in implant dentistry has been the Mini Dental Implant (MDI) which is especially useful for the stabilisation of loose full lower dentures.
Click Here for more information about the MDI system of denture stabilisation.
