Dental Implant Placement Process By James Stein on February 17, 2024

If you are missing teeth, there is no doubt that it impacts your everyday life. Missing teeth affect your ability to bite and chew. They also affect the appearance of your smile. With time, they can cause jawbone deterioration, which can further damage your oral health and make the face appear sunken in. Dental implants are tiny posts that are placed in the jawbone to replace the missing tooth root; as a result, they are able to address all of these complications caused by missing teeth.

At the practice of James M. Stein, DMD in Boston, MA, we go over the dental implant placement process with patients so they know what to expect when undergoing this highly effective treatment.

Preparation

The first step that patients need to take is to schedule an appointment at our practice so we can determine if you are ready to have dental implants placed soon or if you require preparatory treatments. Most patients require some dental services to improve their dental health before they are ready to have dental implants placed. Some of the treatments that are common before dental implant surgery include:

Tooth extractions
Gum disease treatment
Bone graft
Sinus lift

Dental Implant Surgery

The great advantage of undergoing dental implant surgery and having dental restorations placed by Dr. Stein is that he is an ADA-accredited prosthodontist who has undergone advanced training both during dental school and on a continued basis. He uses two key technologies for dental implant patients to achieve improved results.

The Straumann and 3i systems enable him to develop a precise surgical plan and use computer-guided surgery to place the dental implants. He also has CAD/CAM technology so he can fabricate temporary restorations right in his office so your missing teeth can be replaced immediately.

During dental implant surgery at our Boston practice, Dr. Stein will use advanced technology to create space in the gums and jawbone for the implant post. The post is placed in its precise location, and then sutures are used to close the treatment area.

Osseointegration

Over the course of the next three to six months, the dental implants will actually become a part of your jawbone. The bone, ligaments, and gum tissue will grow around the implant, securely holding it in place, just like a tooth root. Once the implant has integrated with the surrounding oral anatomy, we can move on to the next stage.

Abutment Placement

The abutment is the hardware that connects the dental implant to the restoration. This procedure is simple and quick. Dr. Stein will make a small incision in the gums to access the implant. The abutment will be placed, and sutures will be used to close the area.

Placement of the Custom Restoration

The final step of the process is to place the final crown, bridge, or denture that we have custom designed for you. Dr. Stein will attach the restoration to the abutments, and your treatment will be complete.