Surgery Planning

The Process

Our dental team will walk you through the procedures expected on the day of your dental implants surgery.

Upon your arrival at the practice on the surgery day, our initial interaction involves addressing any last-minute queries during a discussion.

For the next step, you’ll be requested to use a specific antiseptic mouthwash (admittedly with an unpleasant taste), and we’ll apply a skin disinfectant to the surrounding skin. In the surgery room, you’ll find an attentive, experienced team comprising the anaesthetist, my implants nurse, another dental nurse, the dental technician, and myself. Depending on the circumstances and with your consent, your dentist may also be present.

Before initiating the surgery, we prioritise ensuring your relaxation. The anaesthetist administers intravenous (conscious) sedation to put you at ease, especially if you’re feeling anxious. This sedation aids in maintaining a calm state.

Following this, the team will prepare you for surgery, providing the necessary levels of local anaesthetic to guarantee a pain-free experience. We’ll continuously monitor and adjust the anaesthetic as needed.

If applicable, our dentist carefully extract any diseased or compromised teeth and subsequently place the implants. A reference scan is taken during surgery, supported by the detailed digital scans obtained during pre-operative planning. This precision underscores the importance we place on planning, leaving nothing to chance. After securely placing the implants, abutments are screwed into them.Next, we take an impression, to craft a provisional bridge—your ‘temporary’ teeth.

Final Stage

Your dentist will affix the provisional bridge to the abutments, ensuring its secure placement, checking bite patterns, and overall ensuring satisfaction. Following this, we’ll hand you a mirror. At that moment, you’ll likely feel unparalleled happiness, a sentiment destined to persist for years as you regain the confidence you believed was lost forever.

While the provisional bridge looks impressive, rest assured that the definitive restoration—your final teeth—will be even better. We’ll fit these final teeth four to six months later.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are dental implants?

Dental implants consist of titanium posts, abutments and a prosthetic, which serve as both replacement tooth roots and teeth. Implants are securely fitted within the jawbone structure, naturally fusing with existing bone structure through a process of osseointegration. The titanium tooth roots act as a permanent fixture for dental crowns, dentures and bridges.

Who is suitable for dental implants?

Patients who have lost a tooth or teeth due to oral trauma may be suitable candidates for dental implants. Dental implant dentists (or implantologists) examine the jawbone to decide whether the patient is suitable for treatment. If the jawbone is too narrow a bone graft may be necessary to build up the jawbone structure before treatment commences.

Some patients may need to have their maxillary sinus lining separated from the jawbone, which is done via a sinus lift procedure prior to implant treatment. A sinus lift may be combined with bone grafting procedures to prepare bone surfaces for implants and bone fusion. Once a patient’s oral and facial structure is evaluated during diagnostic testing, the dental implant surgeon will recommend the best route of treatment for the patient.

What is involved in the procedure?

Patients are first assessed on their suitability for dental implants. Oral dimensions and conditions are tested using diagnostic tools, such as CT Scans, 3D X-ray imaging, radiographs and bite impressions. These enable dental implant dentists to obtain patient-specific measurements of the jawbone and oral facial tissue, thus promoting the accurate placement of dental implants.

The structure of a patient’s jaw is assessed, as is the proximity of the sinus region, to determine if other treatments are necessary prior to the implant procedure. The bone density and resorption ability are also evaluated. If it is established that dental implants are an appropriate treatment, the site is prepared and cleaned.

The basic dental implant procedure involves a small incision being made in the gum line at the exact point where the dental implant post will be inserted. The gum tissue is then lifted or removed, and the jawbone will be gently drilled and the titanium implant post inserted. The drill size may be adjusted according to the type of abutment or implant post used.

The dental implant and jawbone need time to fuse together before a final tooth replacement is fitted. Osseointegration is vital for the success of dental implant treatment, with the time of healing and bone fusion ranging from six weeks to six months.

Depending on the stages involved in surgery, such as whether a bone graft or sinus lift is necessary, treatment and healing times may vary. However, immediately loaded mini dental implants can provide tooth replacement and restoration within one surgery.

What types of implants are there?

In contrast to long drawn-out traditional implant methods, innovative and advanced technology and procedures now allow patients to receive dental implants as “Same Day Teeth”. On a global scale there are more than 100 different implant systems in use.

Recognised and trusted brands of dental implants are produced by Nobel Biocare, Camlog and Straumann. These companies develop their dental implant systems using rigorous scientific testing. Nobel Biocare produces dental implant systems for single and multi-tooth installation. Dentists are able to provide solutions for patients with different dental implant needs. German-founded Camlog’s dental implant system optimises implant surface for stability and durability. The company and brand is trusted for reliable implantology care.

Straumann produce a range of dental implant systems, such as SLActive and Roxolid. Considered highly successful and stable Straumann SLActive is a six week dental implant treatment solution, which optimises surface topography for enhanced bone fusion. Straumann Roxolid is a specialist dental implant innovation for patients with limited tooth space and a narrow or thin jawbone, requiring a smaller implant post. These implant posts are 80 percent titanium and 20 percent zirconium for greater tensile strength. Research into dental implant systems is ongoing to improve design, procedures and durability.

Are there alternatives?

Missing or extracted teeth may be replaced by either dental implants or plate-form false teeth, such as bridges and dentures. Dental implants are recognised for their stability and enhanced oral functionality. Full dental implants are considered to have a higher success rate than mini dental implants, which are used as temporary implants or as a cheaper alternative to full dental implants.

What are the benefits?

At Smile Hub Dental Clinic, we make our dental implant crowns with the highest quality porcelain so they blend naturally with your neighbouring teeth. Your dental implant will help to preserve your gum and bone where your tooth was lost.

Dental implants are comfortable as they feel like a natural tooth. The porcelain crown feels like the enamel of teeth and a dental implant crown has the same dimensions as your missing tooth.

Dental implants allow patients to bite and chew food comfortably. It is a tooth for life if you maintain excellent oral hygiene and do not smoke. Regular 6 monthly visits with your dentist in Smile Hub Dental Clinic for a check-up and dental professional cleaning is important.

Dental implants give patients confidence when eating, smiling and talking.