Implants are used to restore spaces that have resulted from the loss of one or Before any patient can have an implant placed it The CT scans are taken in The implant is placed under local anaesthesia in a small surgical procedure. In many cases this can be done at the same time as the doomed tooth is extracted. Often the surgery can be performed under IV sedation. The implant is usually left undisturbed for a period of up to 6 months, during which time the bone grows onto and fuses with the titanium. This is a phenomenon known as osseointegration and basically means that a strong biological bond develops between the bone and implant. It is this fusion that makes surgical grade titanium unique amongst all metals. In some cases a crown can be made to fit onto the implant at the same time that it is placed - a technique termed 'immediate function'. Once the implant is ready a post or abutment will be connected which will be used to support either a provisional denture, a crown or a bridge. |
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