There are several stages involved in the process of getting a dental implant, where from start to finish, can take as little as a few months. The first stage is the initial consultation, where we will examine your teeth and inform you of the process.

The next visit involves the insertion and placement of the dental implant. During the surgical process, you will be given a local anaesthetic so you don’t experience any pain during the procedure. A small incision is made in the gum to create access to the jawbone. A hole is drilled and a screw-shaped titanium rod is placed into the gum, topped with a healing cap and sutured shut to encourage quick healing. It normally takes roughly 3-6 months for the implant to heal. In this time, the titanium implant will bond with the jaw and surrounding tissues. Each step is carefully monitored. If any additional treatment is required, such as bone grafting, this can usually be performed during the dental implant surgery.

After this, a torque test is performed to test if the implant has bonded with the jaw and surrounding tissues. If it has, you can proceed to the next stage of treatment where the gum on the surface of the implant is shaped.

Finally, the implant is ready for the prosthetic. Depending on your personal needs, you may simply have an artificial tooth (crown) attached. However, if you struggle with gum disease, tooth decay or have lost a multitude of teeth, a dental bridge or implant denture may be used to replace more than a single tooth.