Dental Implants

When is an implant placed?

An implant can be placed either immediately after tooth extraction, or after the bone and gums have healed. Implant surgery is often simple and painless. It is performed under local anaesthetic, as for the treatment of a cavity. The final prosthesis is made once the bone around the implant has healed. This is the “osseointegration” of the implant (within 3 to 5 months). Under certain conditions, a temporary prosthesis can be fitted immediately after implant placement.

Implant placement

Implant placement requires rigorous surgical asepsis. It can be performed in the office or in the operating room, depending on the surgeon’s habits and the configuration of his or her practice, which may or may not be suitable for implant placement.
A local anaesthetic is administered. The gingiva is incised and cleared to gain access to the bone site where the implant is to be placed. Successive drills of different diameters are used to prepare the implant bed.