Patients with sufficient bone: The second phase of the treatment
will involve placement of implants. This is normally carried
out under a local anaesthetic and sedation is usually preferred.
A strict regime of sterility is used for this procedure and
patients are draped.
The gum is lifted the implants are precisely placed and the
gum is put back and the incision site closed. Directly after
surgery any temporary bridgework or dentures will be put back.
One to two weeks later the operation site is reviewed and
the sutures are removed.
As described previously, in those cases where the implant
is going to be loaded straightaway, the abutment (post) is
attached at this time and the temporary crown can be placed
straightway. In this way a healing period of up to six months
can be avoided. However, over the next three months a soft
diet is required before the final crown is made.
When there is a small defect in the bone ridge it is possible
to use Guided Tissue Regeneration (GTR) at the same time an
implant is placed. This is normally a membrane, which is placed
over the implant with the bone graft in the small bone defect.
This stops the soft gum from growing into the defect and allows
the bone to fill the space.
Patients requiring bone grafts: The third phase of the treatment
for patients with insufficient bone would be a grafting procedure.
If a small amount of bone is required the bone is usually
taken from another part of the mouth. This can easily be carried
out in the surgery.
If the amount of bone required is much greater, this would
be obtained from the hip. This is only necessary if there
are many missing teeth and the bone has been severely destroyed.
The implants are then placed once the graft has healed.
