Initial consultation
During the initial consultation, the team at Zen Dental Studio in Brisbane will decide whether you are suitable for a dental implant, or if another restorative treatment would suit you more.
The team will want to know your medical history, medical conditions and any medications you take. To examine your dental health, you will undergo a comprehensive dental exam, x-rays and 3D imaging.
This information will allow our team to know whether you are eligible for dental implants or not.
If the dental implant procedure is suitable for you, treatment will be underway.
Placement of the dental implant
You will need either local anaesthetic or sedation for the procedure, it’s your choice which you prefer.
During the procedure, you will have your gum cut back in the site of the missing tooth to expose the jawbone. A drill will then be used to make a hole in your jawbone, where the dental implant will be inserted.
Once the dental implant has been placed, you will have to wait several months to allow a process known as ‘osseointegration’ to occur. This process involves the bone growing to fuse the dental implant in place. This is required to provide strength and durability before the permanent crown or artificial tooth is placed.
In the meantime, a temporary denture may be inserted over the implant for protection.
The abutment
The abutment is the connecting piece between the dental implant and the dental crown or artificial tooth. The abutment may also be inserted in the initial dental implant surgery in some patients.
You may require minor surgery with local anaesthetic for placement of the abutment, as the gum tissue will have to be cut away to expose the dental implant.
The healing time for this procedure is two weeks.
Placement of a crown or artificial tooth
After two weeks following the abutment surgery, you will be ready to have your permanent tooth replacement.
You can either choose a dental crown or an artificial tooth. The artificial tooth can either be removable, fixed or a combination of the two.
The fixed version is cemented down, whereas the removable version is connected to a metal frame attached to the abutment.
