|
STEPS
IN OBTAINING DENTAL IMPLANTS
 1.
Examination/consultation
A thorough oral examination and medical consultation by the dental team
responsible for implant treatment is necessary to determine if you are a
candidate for dental implants. This
team consists of your oral and maxillofacial surgeon, and your restorative
dentist. Working as a team, the
oral and maxillofacial surgeon places the implants and, after healing takes
place, the restorative dentist designs and places the artificial teeth that are
supported by the implants. During
the examination, you will give a complete medical history.
Be sure to give all information, including any health problems, allergies
or medications you are taking. Your
examination may include several types of x-rays to provide essential information
about the jaw bone and its anatomy, models of your jaws, and possibly certain
blood tests. Based on the results
of this examination, the dental team will discuss all aspects of your case with
you. Together you will decide if
dental implants are appropriate for you.
2. Preparing
for Implant Surgery
Following
are tips to help you prepare for your implant surgery appointment:
Clothing
– Wear loose, comfortable clothing with sleeves that can be easily rolled up.
If intravenous anesthesia or sedation will be administered, tight sleeves
can make this difficult.
Transportation
– Arrange to have someone accompany you to your surgical appointment and drive
you home afterwards. You may be drowsy for a while after anesthesia, and driving
yourself is unsafe.
Diet
– If intravenous anesthesia or sedation will be administered, do not eat or
drink for at least 6 hours prior to your surgery appointment.
Medications
– Adhere to any medication schedule that is prescribed by your surgeon prior
to surgery.
Anesthesia
– Modern anesthesia technology now makes it possible to perform even complex
surgery in the dental office with little or no discomfort.
During surgery, one or more of the following is used to control pain and
anxiety: local anesthesia that numbs the surgical area; nitrous
oxide-oxygen (sometimes called “laughing gas”) to relax you; intravenous
sedation for relaxation; and general anesthesia that puts you to
sleep. Your surgeon will fully
explain the type of anesthesia that is most appropriate for your needs.
 With
the use of modern anesthesia technology, complex surgery can be performed in the
dental office with little or no discomfort.
3.
Implant Surgery
The
placement of endosteal dental implants requires two different surgical
procedures. In “Stage 1”
surgery the implants, or “fixtures,” are placed in the bone.
In “Stage 2” surgery, which takes place after osteointegration is
complete and the submerged implants are solidly anchored in bone, the fixtures
are uncovered and special posts called “abutments” are attached to the
implants. These abutments project
above the gum line into the mouth, and the final artificial teeth will be fitted
onto them.
|
|
WHAT
TO EXPECT DURING SURGERY
Stage
1 Surgery
The
first surgical procedure for endosteal implants involves placing the implants in
the bone. This surgery can take
place in the oral and maxillofacial surgeon’s office, or in a hospital
setting. Local anesthesia with a
mild sedative may be used, or in certain cases general anesthesia may be
recommended. After you are
anesthetized, the surgeon will lift back the gum tissue to expose the bone and
place one precisely measured hole in the bone where each implant will be
inserted. The implant fixtures are inserted in the holes, then the gum
tissue is replaced over the fixtures and sutures (stitches) are placed.
The surgical procedure may take several hours if multiple implants are
placed, and following surgery you will spent some time “in recovery” before
going home. Osteointegration will
begin taking place as healing progresses, and the fixtures should be firmly
anchored by bone within four to six months.
 Stage
1 surgery involves placing the implant fixtures in the jaw bone.
Following
Stage 1 Surgery
Immediately
following surgery you may be asked to bite on some gauze to stop any bleeding,
and an ice pack may be used during the first 24 hours to help reduce swelling.
Expect some swelling in the area of the implant surgery for up to 72
hours following the procedure, as well as some discoloration of the skin and
gums for a few days. Pain medication prescribed by your surgeon will help
alleviate any discomfort, and you should be able to resume normal activities
within a day or two. Your surgeon
may also prescribe antibiotics. Expect
some minor bleeding on the day of surgery, but report excessive bleeding to
your surgeon immediately. During
this time a soft diet is recommended that doesn’t place undue stress on your
new implants, and your surgeon will give you important instructions on how to
clean your mouth. If you have been
wearing a denture, the surgeon or restorative dentist may place a soft lining in
it so you can wear it comfortably during the healing period or it may be
necessary to leave it out for a short period of time.
If spaces due to missing teeth must be billed in while healing takes
place, temporary teeth that appear natural can be made. Sutures that were placed after surgery will either dissolve
or you will return to your surgeon to have them removed.
Stage
2 Surgery
The
second surgical procedure takes place after healing from Stage 1 surgery is
completed. For endosteal implants
which osteointegrate, healing usually takes 4-6 months.
Areas of the mouth that undergo more chewing stress may require a longer
healing period, perhaps up to eight months.
At the second surgical appointment, usually performed in the surgeon’s
office using local anesthesia, the gum tissue is opened to expose the implant
fixtures. The fixtures are examined
to verify satisfactory osteointegration, then healing posts are attached to the
fixtures. If sutures are placed,
they will either dissolve or you will return to have them removed by your
surgeon. This second stage of
surgery is a relatively short procedure, and you can expect to return to normal
activities within on or two days if not sooner.
 In
Stage 2 Surgery healing posts are attached to the implant fixtures.
Following
Stage 2 Surgery
After
returning home, eat a soft diet and follow your surgeon’s oral hygiene
instructions. Expect some minor
bleeding, but report excessive bleeding or swelling to you surgeon. You will return to your surgeon within a few days so that
healing progress can be monitored, and if you wear a denture, it may be placed
immediately or shortly after surgery. This
will be determined by your dentist on an individual basis.
Ice
packs applied to the face following surgery and help  reduce swelling.
EMERGENCY
ASSISTANCE:
Contact
our Huntington office at
(631)
427-7373 during regular
business hours.
Contact
our Centereach office at
(631)
737-2626 during regular
business hours.
PLEASE
feel free to contact our office at (516) 795-0715 after office hours if you
need any additional advice with regard to your progress or recovery. |
Stage
1 surgery involves placing the implant fixtures in the jaw bone.
