The importance of dental implant placement
Making the decision to get a dental implant is a big step towards getting your smile back. As a top permanent solution for replacing missing teeth, dental implants look and function just like your natural teeth.
In this post, we’ll explain how your oral surgeon decides where to place your implants and how many will be needed to restore your smile.
The importance of well-planned implant placement
Compared to many other types of oral surgery, dental implants require an advanced level of planning and precision to ensure the best results. Imaging technology is used to calculate the precise location and angle for each implant to ensure the highest level of fusing the implant to your bone. Equally important is determining the type and length of each implant for maximum strength and longevity.
How many implants will I need?
In most cases, patients missing just one or two teeth will have one dental implant installed for each of their missing teeth. Each implant acts as the root for the missing tooth and an individual crown will be fitted over each implant.
However, if a patient is missing several teeth in the same area, your oral surgeon may choose to install a larger dental restoration to fill in the gap. A bridge can be installed with one implant on each end or with one implant and the support of a healthy natural tooth. During the initial consultation and planning phases, your surgeon will outline the number of dental implants they recommend and why.
Pre-implant preparation
Some patients will require additional preparation before implants can be installed. In the case of diseased gums or soft tissue, these issues must be resolved before the type, length and angle of implants can be determined.
Patients with significant bone loss may need a bone graft. Patients who have been missing teeth for many years may need to realign teeth that have shifted in their mouth over time.
In the most extreme cases, a full arch solution may be recommended. Also called All-on-4, a full arch restoration replaces all your upper or lower teeth and is installed using four dental implants.
