Dental Implant – How Does the Treatment Proceed?
Implantology – Treatment Process

As a relatively new field in traditional dentistry, implantology offers patients the opportunity to close gaps in their dental arches in a particularly aesthetic way. The dental implant is a high-quality solution for replacing missing or severely damaged teeth and serves as an artificial tooth root, onto which the chosen type of dental prosthesis is attached.

Its major advantage over traditional dental bridges: The adjacent teeth do not need to be ground down and used as pillars. Many of our patients who come to our practice in Los Angeles on Ventura Blvd with the desire for sophisticated dental prosthetics want to learn about the implant treatment process. This article summarizes the most basic information.

One or two sessions required.

The question about the number of treatment sessions is often asked at our dental practice in Los Angeles. The solid foundation for a successful treatment is initially a careful diagnosis, which assesses the individual dental status and checks whether there is enough bone substance necessary for the stable integration of the implant. This is done through extensive X-ray diagnostics or a computer tomography (CT) or the lower-radiation volume tomography. Only then can it be decided whether the dental implant is placed in one session (immediate implantation) or multiple sessions (delayed immediate implantation or late implantation).

A later implantation may be necessary, for example, if the tissue in the area of the planned dental implant is inflamed or if there is insufficient bone substance for an implant. The durability of the dental implant depends on various factors. Crucial for this are especially the initial condition of teeth, gums, and bones before the procedure, as well as the patient's cooperation in protecting the new dental prosthesis during the healing process according to the guidelines explained by the dentist.

Step by Step to the Dental Implant

The path to the implant in our practice in Los Angeles follows a medically sound, individually tailored approach to the patient's dental situation. Here is a summary of the key steps:

Conducting modern imaging diagnostics followed by a detailed consultation: This involves using advanced imaging techniques to assess the patient's dental situation, followed by thorough discussions.
Bone augmentation, if needed: In cases where the currently available bone substance is insufficient for a stable anchoring of the dental implant, bone augmentation is performed. This is especially relevant for situations involving a more distant tooth loss.
Pre-treatment: Existing oral conditions such as cavities or periodontal disease are carefully treated because the successful implantation depends on a healthy oral environment and good oral hygiene.
Insertion of the implant under local anesthesia: The jawbone is exposed beforehand, and the bed for the subsequent implant is prepared. The implant is then placed under local anesthesia.
Immediate restoration if the tooth environment is optimal: If the surrounding teeth are in good condition, the desired dental prosthesis can be immediately applied. Alternatively, an aesthetically pleasing temporary restoration is applied, which is later replaced by the final restoration after an individual healing period.