Implants can be inserted in one of two ways:

 

1. Immediate insertion is when the dental implant is placed at the same time that the tooth or teeth are removed.  Whether or not this is possible will depend on the condition of your bone at the time of extraction.  Immediate placement may carry a slightly lower success rate.

2. Post-immediate dental implant placement is insertion of the implant into a region of the mouth where the tooth or teeth have previously been removed or have been missing for some time.  This is usually the appropriate method of implant placement.

 

 

Implant treatment may entail a combination of the above insertion methods and the time required to place them will depend on the number being inserted and their position in the mouth.  Every effort will be made to keep the time to a minimum whilst not jeopardizing the final result.

 

The upper jaw is prepared for the implants by making a hole in the bone by either drilling to cut a channel or by forming the channel using small punches which are tapped through the bone. The latter may entail the use of a small mallet which can potentially cause symptoms of nausea or imbalance following the procedure. These symptoms do not persist and subside after several weeks or in rare cases a few months. Which technique is used depends on the density of the bone being prepared and occasionally may entail a combination of the two techniques. The lower jaw is prepared using drilling only.