Dental implants are placed in your mouth through a surgical procedure that replaces the root of a missing tooth with a metal post, providing a strong foundation for an artificial tooth (crown).
The Surgical Placement Process
The initial step in implanting a tooth involves surgically placing the dental implant itself into the jawbone. This process requires accessing the bone beneath the gum tissue.
According to the surgical procedure for placing a dental implant:
- Gum Incision: Your surgeon first makes a cut to open your gum tissue.
- Bone Exposure: This step is performed to expose the bone located underneath the gum.
- Site Preparation: Subsequently, your surgeon drills holes into the bone at the precise location where the implant will reside.
- Implant Placement: Finally, the dental implant metal post will be placed into these prepared holes in the bone.
This surgical step creates a stable anchor point within your jawbone. Over time, the bone will heal and fuse around the implant, a process called osseointegration, making the implant a permanent part of your jaw. After this healing period, an abutment (connector) and the artificial tooth (crown) are attached to the implant post.
Here's a summary of the initial surgical steps from the reference:
| Surgical Step | Action Performed |
|---|---|
| 1. Access Gum | Cut to open your gum |
| 2. Reveal Bone | Expose the bone |
| 3. Prepare Bone Site | Drill holes into the bone |
| 4. Insert Implant | Place the dental implant metal post |
