What to Expect During a Tooth Implant

Over the course of your life, you may lose some of your teeth to decay, failed root canals, severe gum disease, injury or other causes. This can be cosmetically unappealing and cause problems when you talk and chew. It can also allow the teeth surrounding the gap to shift and potentially loosen. Some people choose dentures or bridges to replace missing teeth, but many others choose tooth implants. When they are done properly, implants are a permanent, durable solution.

Jaw Preparation

• According to the Consumer Guide to Dentistry, your jaw will be prepared for your tooth implant by the drilling if a hole at the implant site. Your dentist will choose the site carefully to avoid any damage to the inferior alveolar nerve and your jaw and facial structures. The hole is called a "pilot hole." If your jawbone is too soft or is not thick enough for this procedure, the Mayo Clinic says you may need a bone graft first. If you do, it will take up to nine months for the bone to grow enough for the implant procedure to take place.

Screw Placement

• The pilot hole must be widened for placement of the screws that will hold the implant. Once your dentist has completed this process and the screw is in place, it will be topped with a protective cover screw. This will be left on for several months, which gives the site time to heal. The screw will also anchor itself into the bone during this time period in a process called osseointegration.

Temporary Crown Placement

• Once the screw is anchored at the site of your tooth implant, your dentist will remove the temporary cover and put a temporary crown into place. The Consumer Guide to Dentistry says that this crown acts as a template. Your gum will grow around it and take on a natural shape.

Completion

• The last step in a tooth implant is the placement of the permanent crown. Once this is done, you are done with the tooth implant process. Your new tooth should be virtually indistinguishable from the natural teeth around it, and you will be able to chew normally.

Success Rate

• The Consumer Guide to Dentistry says that tooth implants have a high success rate. Ninety percent of upper jaw implants are still successful after five years. Lower jaw implants have a slightly higher rate, as they are succesful 95 percent of the time after five years. This is because the lower jaw is more dense, which increases the chance for successful osseointegration (anchoring) of the implant.

  Smoking decreases the success rate of tooth implants. If you are a smoker and are interested in this procedure, your dentist may recommend that you quit first.

Warning

• Although tooth implant surgery is safe, there can be some side effects at each step of the process. According to the Mayo Clinic, these include gum and facial swelling, bruising, minor bleeding and pain. They generally don't need treatment, but you can take pain medication to handle the discomfort if necessary.

  Even though tooth implants cannot get cavities, you must still brush them and practice good overall dental hygiene. If you neglect your implants, the Guide to Family Dentistry says you can develop a condition called peri-implantitis. This is similar to the gum disease called periodontitis that can affect your natural teeth. It can be avoided by brushing and flossing regularly.