The necessity to undergo dental implant surgery may come at any time, which includes whilst teeth are all at once. In most instances, the prevalence and expenditure are unpredictable.
Whether determined by completely random circumstances or, on the contrary, planned for some time, the installation of a dental implant has the aim of replacing the damaged tooth with the perfect reproduction of a new tooth. The dentist follows the patient through a series of delicate steps, yet fundamental for the success of the operation. Let's see together the main ones and what they consist of.

What are dental implants?


Dental implants are fixed prosthetic devices used to fill the free space between two or more teeth, on the upper or lower dental arch. The space that was once occupied by healthy teeth, which later fell out or were extracted, is filled with the help of technology.
Who is in charge of installing dental implants? The dentist, possibly aided by office assistants, oversees the implantation process, consisting of three key components:
The endosseous screw, which reproduces the shape of the tooth root to fit into the mandibular or maxillary bone tissue;
The abutment, or transmucosal component, which joins the endosseous screw to the dental prosthesis;
The dental prosthesis, i.e. the artificial teeth that fill the empty spaces on the arches.
During surgery, the dentist delicately situates a specialized titanium screw into the jawbone, followed by affixing the abutment and dental prosthesis. Over a few weeks, this carefully crafted implant becomes a prominent and integral part of your smile.

What distinguishes dental implants from dental bridges


Before continuing, it is essential to clean that if the dental implant is immediately connected to the mandible or maxilla, the teeth that define the arch's empty place serve as help for the dental bridge.
The dental implant does not affect the surrounding teeth, unlike the dental bridge which places its foundations on the surrounding teeth.
It follows that the dental implant requires a more or less complex installation process, but gives more certainties in terms of solidity and durability; on the contrary, the dental bridge requires shorter assembly times and therefore guarantees a shorter duration.

How do dental implants work?


The dentist specializing in dental implantology works under local anesthesia with the aim of replacing one or more teeth, until the entire arch is reconstructed, and all functions are restored, primarily chewing and aesthetic appearance. It is important to underline that artificial teeth have the same characteristics as natural teeth.
The surgical operation of installing a dental implant is divided into the following steps:
anesthetization of the gum, which is then incised to separate it from the bone;
incision in the bone with a ball bur until a tiny hole is created;
enlargement of the hole with the help of other drills, keeping the bone hydrated;
insertion of the implant inside the thus widened slot;
screwing the implant with the transport device, which is then removed;
application of a screw to support the gum during healing;
application of a series of stitches to seal the fixed implant.
Once the stitches have been removed and the gum has healed - respectively one week and one month after the operation - the dentist takes care of extracting the screw, taking the impression of the teeth for the implant, and finally determining the size of the new tooth.
The procedure just described can also concern the multiple installations of dental implants during the same session.


Conclusion

Dental implants are transformative solutions for tooth loss, ensuring functionality and aesthetics. Through meticulous steps, a dentist inserts titanium screws to anchor prosthetic teeth securely. Different from bridges, implants offer stability without affecting adjacent teeth. This dental implant surgery process, though intricate, results in durable, natural-feeling replacements for a confident smile.