What is a dental implant?

A dental implant is a titanium post that is surgically placed in the jaw bone to replace the root portion of a tooth on to which your dentist can mount a crown for the tooth or bridge into that area.

When a dental implanting procedure is recommended by the dentist?

It is recommended when you have one or more missing teeth. However, your jaw bone should have achieved complete growth and it should have sufficient bone and healthy oral tissues to fix the implant. You should not have any health conditions that might interfere with bone healing. The implant is a good choice if you are not willing or not able to wear a denture, and thereby improve your speech. However, you have to spend 3 to 6 months for the entire process to complete. 

How is the dental implant procedure performed?

First, the dental surgeon will check the missing tooth site in the mouth and ask for dental imaging studies like IOPA X-rays, panoramic films or CBCT scan to assess the quality and quantity of jawbone. Then, the dentist will decide the time and place according to the patient’s dental health and the amount of surgery that is needed. Either the procedure is done in a dental clinic under local anaesthesia or it is done at a hospital under general anaesthesia. The complete process of an implant procedure lasts for several months, and it is done in three phases;

Placing the implant: In this phase, the dental implant is placed in the jaw bone by a surgical procedure and allows it to integrate with the bone for three to six months. The surgical procedure to fix an implant into the bone takes several minutes to hours, and more than one procedure may be needed depending on the number of implants required.

Attaching the post (Abutment): during this phase, a post will be attached to the implant and allow the gum tissue to advance around it.

Crown attachment: In the last phase, your dentist will mount a permanent crown on the implant. 

How much does it cost for the procedure?

In India, the cost of a dental implant is anywhere between INR 25,000 to INR 50,000.