Medical Procedure: Dental Implants

Common Name: Dental implants

Procedure Overview: A dental implant is an artificial replacement for a natural tooth root. The implants look like screws and are used to hold artificial teeth, also known as dental crowns, in place. The implants are made from titanium or other materials appropriate for the human body. The implant is screwed into the upper or lower jaw, attaching to the bone and surrounding gum tissue, to become a stable base for the artificial tooth. Implants can be used to hold a single tooth, several teeth, a dental bridge or dentures in place. Implants and crowns are important because they restore the ability to chew food in those with missing teeth. They also create the natural appearance of teeth in a mouth. The dental implant procedure is followed by the addition of a dental crown. Dental crowns are custom-made artificial teeth which are placed over the dental implant. Crowns can be made of ceramic, porcelain or metal.
Ceramic crowns are the most natural looking of the crowns and are often used on the front teeth. The tooth-colored ceramic crown material is translucent like natural teeth and can be color-matched to a person’s natural tooth color. Ceramic crowns do not function well on the back teeth where they must withstand the pressure of biting and chewing.

Porcelain crowns are stronger than ceramic and more natural looking than metal. However, due to their metal shell, porcelain crowns have an opaque appearance, and the porcelain exterior may wear down over time revealing a thin metal band near the gum line.

Metal crowns are the strongest of all the crowns, but because of their metallic color are often used only on the back teeth where they are out of sight and can withstand the pressure of biting and chewing. Metal crowns can be made from gold or metal alloys such as palladium, nickel or chromium.


Who is a good candidate for this procedure: Good candidates for dental implants are people with missing or badly decayed teeth and those who have dentures and want more comfort and stability. Furthermore, dental implants are permanently in place requiring no nightly removal and cleaning as well as no adhesives. Dental implants help fill out a face which has a sunken appearance because of missing teeth and offers restoration of the closest thing to a natural tooth. If you’ve had a failed root canal, implants offer an alternative base for the attachment of a crown.

Description of Procedure: The dental implant procedure is a two or three-part process that takes several months to complete because of the required healing between steps. During the first visit, the dentist surgically attaches the implant to the jaw bone. Because the metal implant itself is hollow to allow for the insertion of an extension, or post, the dentist will insert a protective cover screw into the implant to prevent gum tissue and debris from entering the open space. The gum tissue is then secured over the implant and will remain in place for 3-6 months while the implant fuses with the bone. This process is called “osseointegration.” In the second step, the implant is uncovered and an extension, called a post, is put into place on the implant. Some dental implants already contain the post, so a second step is not required because both the implant and post were put into position during the first surgery. The last step of the procedure is the creation and attachment of the crown, or artificial tooth. The dentist will make an impression, or mold, of your implant and surrounding natural teeth. The impression is sent to a lab where your crown is custom made, usually within two weeks. After the finished crown returns from the lab, it is carefully adjusted and secured to the implant.

Average Procedure length: The overall procedure will take 3-6 to complete due to required healing between stages of the implant surgery. The actual insertion of the implant can take as little as 20 minutes for a single tooth to several hours for an entire set of teeth. The procedure can be performed under general anesthesia (you are asleep) or in some cases, local anesthesia (you are awake).

Estimated Recovery time: It is normal to feel discomfort and swelling in the mouth and gums for one to two weeks following implant surgery. You may have temporary difficulty smiling and chewing. External bruising may be visible around the cheeks and facial areas for 7-10 days, but this is rare. During the early healing stages, it is important to maintain excellent oral hygiene and refrain from any activities that may bump or jar the implants.

I can return to work: Most patients take one week off of work to rest and recover from implant surgery.

Longevity of Procedure: Studies have shown a 5-year success rate of 95% for lower jaw implants and 90% for upper jaw implants.

Pain Factor: The level of pain varies from patient to patient, but it is normal to feel discomfort and swelling in the mouth and gums for one to two weeks following implant surgery. Pain medication is usually prescribed and a diet of soft, cold foods or warm soup is recommended.


Potential Side Effects/Risks: Osseointegration, fusion of the implant with the jawbone, may not occur resulting in a failed implant procedure. The implant can break or become infected. The attached crown can become loose. Smokers have a higher risk of implant failure. Poor oral hygiene habits can lead to severe gum disease surrounding the implant. Bleeding, delayed healing, implant rejection, and alteration in sensitivity can occur.