Dental Implants Geelong

When you have missing teeth, dental implants can help fill the gap so you have full function of your mouth and teeth again. They are titanium screws that fix to your jawbone to fill the space where your natural teeth used to be. This is implant placement is done surgically by a specially trained dentist or oral surgeon.

After the titanium fixtures (or ‘screws’)  has been integrated into your jaw bone, your cosmetic dentist takes impressions and measurements, and works closely with state-of-the-art dental laboratories to design and fabricate the crowns or false teeth that will be fixed on to the titanium fixtures.

What are Dental Implants?

A dental implant is an artificial root that is surgically screwed into your jawbone beneath your gums as a replacement root for a dental crown or tooth to go on top. It is a restorative procedure for a missing, chipped or decayed tooth that can’t be fixed with traditional dentures or a crown.

 It is placed and fused with the jawbone through a process called osseointegration. This process ensures the dental implant remains firmly in place in the bone. It helps create a new tooth that looks and feels like a natural tooth.

Important points to remember:

Dental implants are a great way to create a whole new tooth. It is an involved procedure with a higher cost, however, the results are very effective. The most popular type of dental implant is made from a titanium post that is embedded in the jawbone with an attached porcelain tooth dyed to match the colour and appearance of the surrounding teeth and shaped to match your bite pattern. Because the root is fused with the bone it is the most stable and secure form of tooth replacement.

Dental implants have three parts:

1. The titanium implant.
2. The abutment post that connects the implant and the crown.
3. A crown, which acts as the tooth.

How long does it take to get a dental implant?

Even though getting dental implants can be a long and complex procedure, it is worth the wait. Initially, the dental implant is fitted into the jawbone with a minor operation using a local anaesthetic that takes around 1 to 2 hours. 

The anaesthetic ensures you don’t feel any pain during the surgery. Then the bone needs to grow around the dental implant which can take around 3 months. When the implant is secure and stable, the foundation for the new tooth is created.

If it has been a while since there was a tooth missing the bone may need a bone graft. A bone graft is a surgical procedure that builds up or replaces the bone that has been lost while the tooth was missing. Because dental implants are anchored straight into the jaw, they need enough healthy bone tissue to remain stable and secure. This procedure needs to be completed a few months before the titanium post can be embedded.  

What are the steps involved in getting a dental implant?

1. Initially, scans, x-rays and 3-D imaging are completed to determine where to place the implant.
2. During a minor operation, the dental implant is fitted into the jawbone.
3. After a few months, the bone grows around the dental implant.
4. When the implant is stable, a foundation for the new tooth is created.
5. A mould of the mouth is taken to make the artificial tooth.
6. Finally, the artificial tooth is screwed or cemented into the foundation.

Are dental implants painful to get?

While there is some pressure or discomfort during the actual implant procedure the local anaesthesia numbs the nerves surrounding the dental implant area and no pain can be felt. 

For 3 to 5 days afterwards, there may be swelling and bruising of the gums and from there the sensitivity and inflammation should subside relatively quickly. It is advised to get plenty of rest and to stay hydrated. After a week the implant will settle and begin to fuse with the jawbone with little or no discomfort. 

Main benefits of dental implants:

Dental implants are built to last, they look natural and are permanently fused to your jawbone. They behave like natural teeth and therefore have no issues like uncomfortable dentures that can cause slurred or awkward speech or difficulty chewing or eating. The natural bone surrounding the implant remains protected and promotes bone growth. Most of all, you get to keep your natural-looking smile and face shape.