Stages of the Dental Implant Procedure By Timothy Gillespie

Introduction• Dr. Timothy Gillespie, a privately practicing dentist in

North Carolina, performs restorative and implant procedures for adults. Dr. Timothy Gillespie belongs to the International Congress of Oral Implantologists.

The placement of dental implants is most often a three-step process. The first involves the placement of the implant itself, though this may require that the patient first undergo bone augmentation to ensure that there is sufficient structure to support the metal implant. Once the jaw is ready to receive the implant, which serves as the replacement for the natural tooth's root, the dentist places it adjacent to the bone and underneath the gum.

Dental Implant Procedure• Once the implant is in the mouth, it must heal and allow the

bone to grow around it to hold the post securely in the jaw. This process, known as osseointegration, gives the implant its strength and its durability. Many patients must wait for this process to complete before undergoing the third stage of treatment, during which the dentist places the replacement teeth, though some can receive the new teeth and the post in the same visit.

The replacement tooth, custom made for the patient, attaches to the integrated post. Some post styles require a third component, known as an abutment, to attach the post to the tooth, while others connect the replacement tooth to a single-piece implant. The procedure currently offers more than a 90 percent success rate and a long-term success rate above 95 percent.