A tooth implant is associated with surgery, and surgery with pain. And this is where stress most often arises. But implantology is all about the plan: diagnosis, selection of a solution and a calmly conducted procedure under anaesthesia. The patient needs to know what is going to happen, how long it will take and what the healing process is like. No guesswork. One step at a time.
What is a tooth implant and when is it used?
A dental implant is a titanium (or titanium with admixtures) „screw” that the dentist inserts into the jawbone in the place of a missing tooth. The implant replaces the root. It is later used as the base for prosthetic restoration: crown, bridge or multiple implants.
The most common indications are simple:
- one tooth missing after extraction,
- missing several teeth side by side,
- edentulousness, when the patient does not want a removable denture or has problems with it,
- situations where the adjacent teeth are healthy and it is a shame to grind them for a bridge.
An implant is not available to everyone out of the box, as an assessment of the bone, gums and the entire bite is crucial. That is why honest implantology starts not with a procedure, but with a diagnosis.
Qualifying for implants - how does a doctor assess whether it's a good option?
The first visit is an interview and examination. The doctor collects information about general health (medications, chronic diseases, addictions), asks about previous dental treatment and checks oral conditions.
At the qualification it is usually assessed:
- gum condition and hygiene,
- the quality and quantity of bone at the planned implant site,
- neighbouring teeth and how they work in the bite,
- possible overloading (e.g. clamping, grinding),
- whether decay, inflammation or periodontal disease needs to be treated before the implant.
Implantology at the ODENT Medical Centre in Warsaw is part of a comprehensive treatment, so if diagnostics, conservative treatment, hygienization or prosthetics are needed along the way, this can be arranged in a coherent pathway.
Diagnostics before surgery: X-ray, plan and decisions that make a difference
Implant placement is a procedure in which millimetres matter. Planning is therefore based on imaging. The digital X-ray laboratory at ODENT allows the necessary images to be taken quickly and decisions to be based on specifics rather than „it seems to me”.
On the basis of the diagnosis, the doctor determines, among other things:
- where exactly the implant is to stand,
- what diameter and length it should have,
- whether the bone is sufficient or whether it needs to be prepared,
- what type of restoration would be best (crown, bridge, other prosthetic work),
- Whether the implant can be inserted immediately after extraction or whether it is better to wait for healing.
The patient gets a plan, and the plan puts emotions in order. Suddenly you know what's today, what's next week and what's a few months away.
Does the implant procedure hurt?
It should not hurt during the procedure, as the implants are placed under local anaesthetic. The patient can feel the pressure, the touch, the work of the instruments, but pain is a signal to react. And one reacts immediately.
After treatment varies, depending on the extent of the work:
- With a single implant, discomfort is often moderate,
- with more extensive procedures (e.g. several implants, additional procedures), discomfort may be stronger for 2-3 days.
Most often patients describe it as a „post-surgical condition”: tenderness, slight swelling, sometimes bruising. Controllable, especially if postoperative recommendations are followed.
What is the step-by-step process of implant placement?
Below you have the patient's mileage in the patient version, without office abbreviations and without unnecessary secrecy.
Step 1: preparation and anaesthesia
The doctor prepares the surgical field and administers anaesthesia. This is the moment when stress usually decreases. If the patient is tense, a calm pace and communication is important: what we are doing, what you will feel in a moment, when to pause.
Step 2: accessing the bones
The bone at the site of the planned implant is then exposed. This is done so as to keep the tissues in good shape and allow precise work. This is a technical stage that is hardly „perceptible” to the patient.
Step 3: preparation of the implant bed
The doctor prepares the site for the implant in the bone. He uses tools to control the direction and depth. Along the way, he verifies the stability and conditions that determine the subsequent plan.
This is the difference between improvisation and procedure: here everything has an order.
Step 4: insertion of the implant
The implant is placed in the prepared bed. The doctor assesses whether the implant has achieved adequate stabilisation. Depending on the clinical situation, either a healing element may be placed or the implant is secured for integration into the bone.
Step 5: closure and exit instructions
At the end, the tissues are secured and the patient is given specific recommendations: what to eat, what to avoid, how to take care of hygiene, what is normal and what should prompt contact with the clinic.
And it is good if these recommendations are short and clear. On the day of surgery, no one has a head for elaborations.
What happens after the procedure? Healing and osteointegration without scaring
Once an implant has been placed, the body needs time for the implant to fuse with the bone. This process is called osteointegration. In practice, this means that the implant becomes a stable base for the tooth.
Three things are important during this period:
- hygiene (gentle but regular),
- overload control (we do not „test” the implant with hard products),
- follow-up visits at set times.
If you are a smoker, have unregulated periodontal disease or clench your teeth tightly, your dentist may suggest additional precautions and plan modifications. This is a factor that must be taken into account.
When is a crown placed on an implant and what does a prosthetic restoration look like?
The implant is the base. Aesthetics and function only return when a prosthetic restoration is present. This is most often a crown, the part visible in the mouth. Its shape, colour and positioning are matched to the neighbouring teeth and occlusion.
At the prosthetics stage, the doctor pays attention to:
- tightness and fit,
- contact with the gum (so that it is easy to maintain hygiene),
- bite alignment to avoid overloading the implant.
In a good implant plan, prosthetics are envisaged from the outset.
Who is most likely to give up on implants? Contraindications and situations requiring preparation
There are cases where implants are not placed immediately or not at all. Sometimes these are temporary contraindications, sometimes permanent. Most often, however, it is a matter of preparing the conditions so that the procedure makes sense.
The doctor may defer the implant if:
- there is active inflammation in the mouth,
- hygiene is inadequate and the risk of complications increases,
- Bone is in short supply and reconstruction needs to be planned,
- the patient has unregulated general illnesses that impede healing.
Here it is worth stating plainly: „not now” does not mean „never”. It often means „let's prepare the ground first”.
Why do patients choose implants in Warsaw at the ODENT Medical Centre?
In implantology, it is the combination of: diagnosis, experience and good organisation of treatment that counts. The ODENT Medical Centre is a facility in Warsaw that provides comprehensive dental care in one place: from diagnostic imaging to treatment and prosthetic restoration.
If you are considering Dental implant in Warsaw, a good start is a consultation and a treatment plan based on diagnosis. Then it all falls into place in logical steps.
FAQ
How long does a single implant procedure take?
Usually from a few tens of minutes to about an hour, depending on the conditions in the mouth and the extent of the work. The exact time is determined by the doctor after examination and diagnosis.
Can an implant be inserted immediately after a tooth extraction?
Sometimes yes, but the decision depends on the bone, the inflammation and the stability possible on the day of surgery. Sometimes it is better to wait and plan the implant after healing.
When can you eat normally after an implant?
Soft food is usually possible quickly, while hard foods and „biting down on the implant” should wait, as advised by the doctor. This is the period during which the implant integrates into the bone.
How long does it take for the implant to heal?
The implant-bone fusion process itself usually takes several months. The timetable is individual and depends on the site (jaw/jaw), bone conditions and prosthetic plan.
Can an implant fail?
The risk of failure exists in any medical procedure, but it can be reduced by good qualification, treatment of inflammation, hygiene and control of overload.
Are implants good for seniors?
Age in itself is rarely a contraindication. What matters is the state of health, the conditions in the mouth and the ability to heal. This is determined by the qualification.
Which is better: a bridge or an implant?
It depends on the situation. An implant usually avoids grinding the neighbouring teeth, but requires suitable bone conditions. The doctor compares the options at the consultation.
