Tooth implant?!

Tooth implant?

can someone tell me the whole process that is involved with getting a tooth implant. like do they put you under for it? how long is the whole procedure? does it hurt a lot after and if it does for how long? does it ever need to be replaced? please help me out. thanks!

First you would have an implant evaluation with you dentist or oral surgeon. That would deterime if you have enough bone to make an implant possible.

Then once decided that you are a canadate you would go in the assistant would place topical anesthetic on the area that is going to be numb. (so oral surgeons will give IV sedation but it's really not necessary for one implant its a quick procedure) Then the dentist will numb the area.

Once the area is numb the doctor will start to make a small incision in the area to expose the bone(sometimes that isn't necessary). Then he/she will start to drill into the bone with what almost looks like a small drill bit. There is a lot of vibration and there is saline water being squirted on the site also. So it is going to taste salty.

Once the doctor has reached the proper level to place the implant he will check the access hole with a measure and then the assistant will take an X-ray. Once the dr. is satasified with the depth and everything he/she will place the implant.

The implant is placed with an instrument that looks like a little tork wrench. That's pretty much what it is. Once the implant is in place the dr will place a healing cap(a little screw) on top of the implant. then if he/she made and incision it will be sutured. If no incision was made then there is no need for sutures.

Then the assistant will take another X-ray so the dr can see that it's good and also for insurance purposes. Once that is done you'll get cleaned up and set up for a post oprertive appt in a week to check that everything is healing okay. The dr will give you a prescription for an antiobiotic and pain reliever.

Now over the next 6-8 weeks you will be in perioticlly to have post op exams on the implant and to make sure everything is going good. Once the bone is fully healed then the doctor can continue with the restoration of the tooth.

The doctor will then have you scheduled to place what is called an abutment in the implant. It's like a little stub that will act as support for the crown that is going to be there. Then the dr will take an impression of the abutment and send it to a lab to have the crown made. The dr will then make you a temporary crown so now you will have a tooth again.

Then in about 3-4 weeks you will have an appt to place the permant crown. Then you will have a fully fuctioning tooth.

The whole procedure costs about 2000/tooth depending on where you live. As for the pain most of my patient have had little to know pain. Just a little bit of tenderness. The worst part some said were the sutrues but after they were out they were good to go. Placing the implant only takes about 45-60 mins. The whole procedure from start to finish takes about 3-3 1/2 months. It is there forever. The failure rate is very low.. Well I hope this helps...good Luck