Dental Implants

A dental implant and crown will take approximately 3-4 appointments over 3-4 months. Initially, the dental implant is placed into the jawbone under local anaesthesia (similar to when a filling is done). Once the implant has been successfully placed, a specialised ‘healing cap’ is positioned over the implant so that food does not interfere with the osseointegration process over the next 12 weeks. At On Track Dental, we work closely with skilled periodontists (gum and bone specialists) or oral surgeons, who place the dental implant before we begin to fabricate the crown portion of your implant.

After approximately 12 weeks, and following successful integration of the implant to the jawbone, the healing cap is removed and a mould or scan is taken of the implant, which is then sent to a dental ceramist, who makes the finished ceramic crown.

At the final appointment, the ceramic crown is permanently placed onto the implant, and some minor final adjustments are made so that the crown feels perfect against the other teeth in your mouth. You may not be used to having a tooth where you had a gap previously, so it is important to be careful when chewing on it initially so that your mouth gets used to it. Sometimes, the dental crown needs to be tightened against the implant, especially after several years of chewing and biting, but rest assured that this is not out of the ordinary.