Depending on the patient’s
particular needs, an implant
restoration generally
consists of three phases.
Dental Implant Phases:
Dental Implant placement
Insertion of a post or other fixture that emerges
through the gum
Setting the final crown or prosthesis
Below, you will find a typical example of a single tooth replacement treatment.
Appointment 1 – Examination/treatment planning
Appointment 2 – Implant placement
Appointment 3 (10-14 days) – Sutures removed
Appointment 4 (4 weeks) – Site examined to ensure proper healing
Appointment 5 (3-6 months) – If submerged at the insertion appointment, implant exposed
Appointment 6 (1-3 weeks following exposure) – Study models are taken to record exact implant location
These models actually produce an exact replica of the patient’s jaws with the implant situation in place. The dentist then orders the exact size of fixture or post to be attached to the implant and used to hold the restoration. The restorative dentist or surgeon may perform this step.
The restorative dentist may use the study models to analyze the case before the patient is seen. To limit refinements when seated in the mouth, the post may be contoured to the desired shape.
Appointment 7 – Post seated permanently in implant and shape refined/temporary crown placed on post
Appointment 8 (if needed) – Final impression for crown taken and sent to lab
Appointment 9 – Final crown seated and bite refined
Ideally, it may be possible to place the implant without reflecting the gum, using a small punch hole for jaw access. A healing cap may then be placed during surgery in order to prevent the need for secondary implant exposure surgery (Appointment 5). If surgery reveals less bone than expected, implant placement may be delayed while more bone is generated.