Tooth loss is a challenging experience that affects the patient’s ability to eat and chew, potentially leading to some health issues. It also impacts how they speak and affects their facial appearance, shaking their self-confidence and causing embarrassment in front of others.

With continuous technological advancement, the dental implant procedure has emerged as a solution, helping patients replace their lost teeth with artificial ones. This surgery provides patients with a long-term solution.

In this article, dental care experts at Magrabi Health explain the benefits of dental implants and the steps involved in the procedure.

What are dental implants?

Dental implants involve the placement of small, biocompatible implants that integrate with the tissues of the mouth. A dental surgeon inserts these implants surgically into the jawbone to replace the roots of the lost teeth.

The implants act as a foundation for artificial teeth such as crowns, bridges, and dentures, providing a long-term solution with results closely resembling natural teeth. This supports the treatment of difficulties in chewing, speaking, and smiling, as mentioned earlier.

The dental implant procedure includes three main steps:

The implant (fixture): the implant represents the artificial tooth root, usually made of titanium, and is inserted into the jawbone by a dental surgeon.
The abutment: a small part that connects the implant to the artificial teeth.
The prosthetic tooth: the artificial tooth may be a crown, bridge, or denture.

Dental implants offer stable teeth like natural ones, making them superior to bridges and dentures in terms of long-term results.

Types of dental implants

There are two main types of dental implants:

Endosteal implants: the most common type of dental implants, inserted directly into the jawbone.
Subperiosteal implants: these implants are placed between the surface of the jawbone and beneath the gum tissue. Surgeons use this type of implant when the jawbone is not suitable for placing implants within the bone.

Are dental implants suitable for all patients?

Dental implants are not suitable for every patient. Hence, Magrabi Health experts ensure that patients undergoing this procedure possess certain characteristics, which include:

Good health: the patient must be in good health to undergo dental implant surgery. Generally, dental surgeons do not perform this procedure on patients with diabetes or immune system disorders, as these conditions negatively affect the healing process.
Sufficient jawbone quantity: the jawbone must be strong and dense enough to allow for dental implant placement.
Healthy gums: the implants require support from healthy gums, and untreated gum disease may lead to periodontitis, which in turn causes instability of the implants.
Smoking cessation: smoking may delay recovery after the procedure and reduce the likelihood of success. Therefore, dental surgeons often ask smokers to quit smoking well before the surgery.

Before the procedure, dental surgeons conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the patient's dental and jawbone health to make an informed decision that aligns with the patient’s condition.

Steps of the dental implant procedure

Dental health experts at Magrabi Health perform the dental implant procedure in several stages, which include the following:

Comprehensive examination and planning: the surgeon conducts a thorough evaluation to understand the condition of the teeth and jawbone. During this evaluation, the surgeon may use x-rays and computed tomography (CT) scans, and then outlines the appropriate treatment steps.
Implant placement: during the surgery, the surgeon makes an incision in the gum to expose the jawbone and then drills a small hole into the bone to place the implant. If the missing tooth is visible (such as a front tooth), a temporary tooth may be placed during the recovery period.
Healing period: this phase aims for the wound to heal and for osseointegration to occur, which means that the implant becomes stable in its new position and integrates with the surrounding tissues. The healing phase typically takes between three and nine months.
Abutment and prosthetic tooth placement: after the previous phase is complete, the patient returns to the dental hospital for the abutment to be attached to the implant, and then the artificial tooth is placed on top. This could be a crown for individual teeth, a bridge, or a denture in cases of multiple missing teeth.

Benefits of dental implants

Dental implants offer several benefits that make them a better option compared to dentures or bridges, including:

Natural appearance of teeth: dental implants provide the same look and function as natural teeth, so it is difficult for anyone to notice that they are artificial.
Maintaining oral health: dental implants help preserve the jawbone, preventing the bone loss that follows tooth loss, thus maintaining the natural structure of the teeth.
Long-term results: with proper care, dental implants can last a lifetime, which differs from traditional dental prostheses that often need replacement over time. The durability of implants contributes to the longevity of the results.
Improved ability to speak and chew food: tooth loss, especially the loss of multiple teeth, often affects speech and makes chewing and swallowing difficult. These issues are resolved after undergoing dental implant surgery.
Achieving a confident smile: as mentioned earlier, losing teeth can cause embarrassment, especially when front teeth are missing, leading patients to avoid smiling. This problem is also resolved after undergoing a dental implant procedure.

Potential complications after dental implant surgery

Although the success rate of dental implant surgery is high, like any surgery, it is associated with some risks and potential complications. It is important to note that these complications can be minimized by working with professional dental surgeons and a hospital equipped with the latest diagnostic and treatment technologies.

These risks include:

Infection: undergoing dental implant surgery increases the risk of infection, especially if the patient does not maintain proper oral hygiene.
Implant failure: a rare issue that occurs due to a lack of proper integration between the implant and the surrounding bone and tissues. Factors that increase the likelihood of this problem include smoking, diabetes, and low bone density.
Nerve or tissue injury: in some cases, the implant may be placed near a nerve, which can cause numbness in the gums, lips, or chin. Additionally, undergoing the procedure by non-specialists may lead to sinus perforation, particularly when performing dental implants in the upper jaw.

How to ensure long-term success of dental implants?

Dental implants require the same level of care as natural teeth. Magrabi Health’s dental experts provide a set of recommendations to maintain the results of dental implants, including:

Brushing your teeth twice daily (morning and night) with an appropriate toothbrush.
Using dental floss to clean between the teeth once a day.
Visiting a specialized dental hospital every six months for early detection of dental and gum diseases, in addition to monitoring the condition of the implanted tooth.
Reducing the consumption of sugary foods and drinks.

Dental implants provide a permanent solution to the problem of tooth loss, but they are procedures that require the expertise of a specialized and skilled surgeon.

You can access all dental care and aesthetic services by consulting a team of specialists at Magrabi Health to achieve a lasting, attractive smile and maintain your oral health. Choose the nearest Magrabi Health branch and consult with dental experts in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East

Steps of Dental Implant Procedure