In cases where a patient has experienced jaw surgery or trauma, they may not be eligible for dental implant placement. However, with the help of bone grafting procedures, it is possible to increase the patient's eligibility for dental implants and other restorative treatments. This procedure helps to restore the jaw to its original shape after trauma, tooth loss, or gum (periodontal) disease. Implants are made of materials such as metallic titanium that can strongly adhere to bone tissue, allowing for osseointegration and biointegration.
When an implant is securely attached to the jawbone, it can withstand the daily forces of chewing and its normal functioning. In some cases, tooth extraction is indicated. If the bone is healthy, the implant can be placed the same day as the extraction. However, if there is severe bone loss or the presence of a large infection, it may be necessary to perform bone grafting in the area before implant placement. Replacement teeth are usually attached to the implant when adequate healing has occurred and the jaw bone is firmly attached to the implant.
Depending on a variety of factors, it is possible to begin this phase of treatment immediately or soon after implant placement. Before starting treatment, every effort will be made to provide each patient with an accurate estimate of all the expenses involved in placing the implants and manufacturing their replacement teeth. Using this information, the dental laboratory will manufacture the support posts, called abutments, that hold the replacement teeth to the implants. If a replacement tooth is needed while the implants are healing, temporary removable teeth or a temporary bridge can be made. If you're waiting to have dental implant surgery, your surgeon will let you know if your new bone is strong enough to support the implant. Although great care is taken to precisely position the implant, sometimes adjacent teeth are injured during the placement process.
In some cases, bone grafting procedures such as sinus lift and ridge augmentation must be performed before implant placement so that a solid bone base remains for the implant. The degree of pain and swelling near the implant site generally depends on the number of implants inserted into the jaw. During consultations, a series of impressions, bites and adjustments are made to obtain personalized support bars, brooches, magnets or clips that will hold replacement teeth to the implants.
