IMPLANT PLACEMENT SURGERY

The implant placement is a surgical procedure made under local anesthesia. After a proper anesthesia is achieved, the first step is the exposure of the bone where the implant is to be made. This is followed by placement (screwing) of the implant into the exposed jawbone.

After placement of the implant a cover screw is put in and the wound is closed with stitches and allowed to heal. In general, placements in the lower jaw need to heal about five months, while placements in the upper jaw need to heal about six months.

Implants that are placed in the bone are called endosteal implants and are made of titanium or a titanium alloy because this metal does not adversely interact with biological tissue.

SURGICAL SITE PREPARATION

EXTRACTIONS: In many cases, some teeth need to be extracted and implant restoration is planned to be placed into the same extraction site.

Under some circumstances, the extractions and the implant's placement can be done in the same visit. However, in many situations as in the case of extensive infection and bone loss around the teeth, the extraction (probably in conjunction with bone grafting) is done in a visit and the site is allowed to heal during 3 - 5 months before the implant placement visit is scheduled.

BONE GRAFTING: The goal of bone grafting is to enlarge the bone structure at the implant site.

As with extractions, sometimes a bone grafting procedure is needed during the same implant placement surgery or it is done months before the implant placement appointment as part of the surgical preparation of the site.

SINUS LIFT: This is a procedure where the maxillary sinus membrane is elevated and bone grafting is performed under this membrane. The end result is the improved bone height in the posterior maxilla which is more favorable for implant placement.