How a dental implant is placed

The answer to the innocent question “How is a dental implant placed?” can take a long time if answered in general terms. The fact is that how a dental implant is installed depends on the individual clinical situation and the technique chosen by the doctor.

We often tell our patients about three possible techniques, and they are also described in detail on our website, but it does not hurt to repeat them.

First, let us outline the following aspect: how a dental implant is placed largely depends on the reasons and circumstances under which the extraction (removal) of that particular tooth was performed. Implantation is necessary to replace a patient’s lost tooth with an artificial one. Therefore, the extraction (removal) of the tooth must take place. However, some patients come to implantation some time after losing a tooth, while others understand that implantation is inevitable even before extraction.

If a patient comes to implantation some time after extraction, two techniques are possible: single-stage and two-stage implantation. If extraction is still upcoming, then immediate implantation is also an option. Interestingly, the latter can also be single-stage and two-stage. Let us examine them in more detail.

Suppose a patient has indications for tooth extraction and would like to replace it with an artificial one. In this case, the doctor, after conducting the appropriate analysis and research, may offer to simultaneously extract the tooth and place an implant.

The process will look like this: in one appointment, the doctor will extract the tooth and place an artificial root (implant) into the resulting socket. The advantage of this technology is that it can reduce trauma. Both tooth extraction and implant placement involve controlled trauma to the bone and soft tissues. However, immediate implantation allows overlapping trauma upon trauma, sparing the patient from going through the recovery process twice.

At the same time, as already mentioned, there are options: immediate implantation can be single-stage or two-stage. In the first case, the tooth will be extracted, the artificial root, abutment, and temporary crown will be placed in one appointment. In the second case, the tooth is extracted, the artificial root is placed, and the wound is sutured until osseointegration (stabilization of the implant in the healed bone).

Regardless of when the patient’s own tooth was lost, two implantation options are possible: with one or two surgical interventions.

How a dental implant is placed during single-stage implantation

How a dental implant is placed during two-stage implantation

Patients are often interested in speed, but the question of how quickly an implant can be placed is not quite correct. Experienced specialists, such as Dr. Osadchyi, can integrate an artificial tooth root in 45-50 seconds. Thus, the procedure itself can happen as quickly as the patient wishes. However, the goal is not speed, but quality. All patients want a tooth that looks natural, feels natural, and performs all necessary functions. This brings us to the topic of loading.

Single-stage implantation allows immediate loading of the implant. That is, in literally one appointment, the patient receives an artificial tooth that can already be used for chewing. This is especially popular among those who need to replace teeth in the visible smile zone. However, the risks of rejection, loss of the structure, and complications when using this technique with immediate loading are very high. We strongly advise against it for our patients. Aesthetics during the healing of the artificial root can be maintained by taking the crown out of occlusion, using a butterfly prosthesis, a temporary adhesive bridge, etc.

Placing implants in the visible smile zone is associated with increased requirements for aesthetics and speed. For this reason, some dental clinics in Kyiv recommend single-stage implantation for front teeth. However, everything depends on the clinical situation: sometimes the risks of rejection and complications outweigh considerations of external attractiveness.

This does not mean that the patient will be doomed to experience difficulties. There are alternatives that we have already mentioned. If the implant needs time for osseointegration and it is better to resort to two-stage implantation on front teeth, then instead of a temporary crown, a butterfly prosthesis or a temporary adhesive bridge can be placed. Externally, such prosthetics are virtually indistinguishable from the patient’s own teeth, do not restrict smiling, speech, kissing, or social life, and have limitations only regarding very hard food (nuts, brittles, etc.). Thus, the artificial root can heal peacefully, and the patient can smile without embarrassment.

As for which implants are best for front teeth, there is a general recommendation to use implants with a zirconia abutment.

Placing implants on back teeth does not have high aesthetic requirements, although at our clinic we believe that all implants should look perfect. Chewing teeth are subject to heavy loads, so it is better to perform two-stage implantation, which has a better prognosis and a higher probability of successful artificial root integration.

It is also believed that bone grafting is more often required for replacing back teeth due to insufficient bone tissue volume. At our clinic, we use plateau-system implants that can be placed with minimal bone availability. That is why, when asked “Which implants are best for chewing teeth?”, we answer: “Ours”.