What is a Dental Implant?

Dental implants are an effective and popular solution for restoring missing or damaged teeth. Whether you've lost a tooth due to injury or decay, dental implants can restore your smile and improve your quality of life.

A dental implant is a small, titanium post that is surgically placed into your jawbone. Once the implant is in place, a replacement tooth or bridge can be attached to it.

To meet your dental needs, Artisan Dental offers a wide range of dental implant services including placement of single and multiple implants, as well as implant-supported dentures and bridges. Our experienced team will provide you with the best possible care with the latest technology and techniques.

If you’re looking for professional dental implant services in Hong Kong, do not hesitate to contact us to schedule a consultation. We look forward to helping you achieve a beautiful and healthy smile.

The Advantages of Dental Implants

1. Natural look and feel

Dental Implants look just like your natural teeth.

2. Restoration of full chewing power

In comparison with removable dentures and dental bridges, dental implants offer the best possible stability, as well as chewing power.Patients with dental implants can eat, brush, and floss completely normally.

3. Preservation of adjacent teeth

Unlike dental bridges, dental implants do not require the alteration of adjacent teeth.

4. Durability

Whereas a dental bridge may only last around 10 years or so,
dental implants could nearly last a lifetime with proper care and regular follow-up.

Structure of the Dental Implant

Dental Implant Steps

Procedure

Procedure

Our dentists will conduct a thorough examination of your teeth and jaw. This may include X-rays and CT scans to determine the best treatment options and placement for the implants. Please be sure to inform the dentists your medical history and any medications you are taking to ensure that you are a good candidate for the procedure. If you have certain cardiac conditions or orthopedic implants, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics before the surgery to help prevent infection.

Once you are ready for the procedure, your dentist will inject local anesthesia into the area around the implant site. Therefore, you will not feel any pain during the process. Then, a small incision will be made in your gum tissue to expose the jawbone. Your dentist will drill a small hole into the bone and carefully insert the titanium implant. The incision will be closed with stitches, and you will be given instructions on how to care for the implant site during the healing process.

You will need to visit the clinic two weeks post-surgery for sutures removal and wound inspection. After the implant is placed, it will take several months for it to fully fuse with the jawbone in a process called osseointegration. During this time, you will need to be careful not to put too much pressure on the implant site.

Once the implant has fused with the jawbone, your dentist will attach an abutment to the implant and take an impression or intraoral 3D scan to make either a crown, denture or bridge. The replacement tooth will be custom-made to match the shape and color of your existing teeth, ensuring a natural-looking result.

Finally, your dentist will install the replacement tooth, denture, or bridge to the abutment.

Once the replacement tooth is in place, you can expect it to function and feel like a natural tooth. You will need to care for your dental implant just as you would your natural teeth, with regular brushing and flossing. Your dentist will also schedule regular check-ups to ensure that your implant is functioning properly.

Post-operative Instructions after Dental Implants

  • If the doctor recommends biting gauze after surgery, please gently bite the gauze for 30 minutes to 1 hour before removing it on your own.
  • It is normal to have slight bleeding on the day of surgery, so there is no need to worry excessively. If there is continuous bleeding, please contact our clinic as soon as possible.
  • After surgery, do not forcefully rinse your mouth, spit out water, or touch the wound with your tongue or head, and avoid strenuous exercise, swimming, and other activities to reduce stimulation to the wound.
  • The first two weeks after surgery are a critical period for initial tissue healing. The wound at the site of the dental implant surgery still needs to be carefully protected from stimulation, so please try to eat foods that are at room temperature, liquid, and soft, and avoid poor wound healing.
  • Please follow the doctor's instructions and take your medication on time.
  • If the doctor has prescribed antibiotics, remember to complete the entire course of treatment even if your symptoms improve, and do not stop taking the medication on your own.
  • If swelling appears at the surgical site, it is a normal phenomenon, and the doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs to control it.
  • In some cases, bruising (purple discoloration) may appear in the local area of the dental surgery a few days after the surgery. It usually subsides within a week and is unrelated to infection, and depends on the patient's constitution.
  • Within 48 hours after the surgery, do not forcefully rinse your mouth. If cleaning is necessary, gently swish water in your mouth and spit it out.
  • From the completion of the surgery to the removal of stitches at the clinic, the wound site does not need to be brushed. Use the mouthwash provided by the clinic to disinfect the area before stitch removal.
  • After the stitches are removed, use a toothbrush to gently clean the area around the dental implant and keep it clean.
  • The doctor may install a temporary healing abutment (as shown in the picture) after the surgery, depending on the situation.
  • The temporary abutment may become loose due to contact with hard objects, which is a common occurrence. Please do not panic, as swallowing or choking may occur. Keep the abutment and contact the clinic to arrange a follow-up appointment for reinstallation.
  • Choose warm or cool liquid foods to reduce the burden on the implant site.
  • Do not chew hard foods such as nuts.
  • Avoid eating fried or spicy foods that may cause irritation and affect healing.

Q&A

Patients typically require three to four follow-up appointments to complete a 3-6 month dental implant treatment, which include:

  1. Examination and implant surgery
  2. Stitch removal and wound care
  3. Impression or 3D oral scanning for records
  4. nstallation of dental prosthesis and adjustments

Regular follow-up appointments should be scheduled to ensure that the dental implant is functioning properly and remains stable.

Most patients report that getting a dental implant is not a painful procedure. However, some discomfort and mild pain may be experienced during and after the procedure. Local anesthesia is used during the procedure to numb the area around the implant, so you should not feel any pain during the procedure.

After the procedure, you may experience some mild discomfort or soreness in the implant area, which can be managed with over-the-counter pain medications or prescribed painkillers. Some swelling and bruising around the implant site may occur, but this should subside within a few days. Your dentist will schedule follow-up appointments to monitor the implant's progress and ensure proper healing. If you experience any pain or discomfort during this time, be sure to let your dentist know.

  1. Oral hygiene: Dental implants have a similar tooth and periodontal relationship as natural teeth. Therefore, it is essential to brush your teeth twice a day and maintain a clean oral environment to prevent infection and other complications.
  2. Dietary habits: It is recommended to avoid eating hard foods to prevent damage to the dental implant, which can lead to implant failure.
  3. Regular cleaning: Regular dental cleanings are necessary to remove plaque and tartar buildup that may accumulate around the implant and cannot be removed by regular brushing. This helps to maintain long-term cleanliness and stability of the dental implant.
  4. Regular check-ups: Regular follow-up appointments help to monitor the condition of the implant and overall oral health, allowing for prompt detection and management of any issues that may arise to ensure the stability of the dental implant and the surrounding periodontal tissues.

Why is bone grafting needed for dental implants?

In fact, the principle of dental implant bone grafting is similar to that of planting a tree. The prerequisite for the success of dental implantation is a stable foundation. If the thickness or hardness of the alveolar bone at the implant site is insufficient, it will seriously affect the stability of the implant. The purpose of bone grafting is to establish a solid foundation for dental implantation, ensuring that the implant is firmly rooted in the jawbone and making the dental implant more stable and durable. Therefore, for patients with congenital defects, bone grafting is a crucial step in the dental implantation process.

Bone grafting is a common procedure used to increase the amount of bone in the jaw and prepare the site for dental implant placement. Here are some situations where bone grafting may be essential for dental implant placement:

  1. Insufficient bone density: The jawbone must be dense enough to support the dental implant. If the bone is too thin or weak, a bone graft may be needed to provide additional support for the implant.
  2. Tooth loss: When a tooth is lost, the surrounding bone begins to deteriorate. If too much bone is lost, a bone graft may be necessary to rebuild the bone and provide a stable foundation for the implant.
  3. Gum disease: Gum disease can cause bone loss and weaken the jawbone. If the bone is too weak to support the implant, a bone graft may be required.
  4. Sinus problems: The sinuses are located above the upper jawbone, and if they are too close to the implant site, they may need to be moved to make room for the implant. This requires a bone graft to provide additional support to the jawbone.
  5. Trauma: Trauma to the jawbone can cause bone loss and weaken the jawbone. In these cases, a bone graft may be necessary to rebuild the bone and provide a stable foundation for the implant.

In summary, bone grafting is essential for dental implant placement when there is insufficient bone density, tooth loss, gum disease, sinus problems, or trauma to the jawbone. Your dentist will evaluate your specific case and determine if a bone graft is necessary before proceeding with dental implant placement.

  1. Evaluation: Your dentist will first evaluate your jawbone to determine if a bone graft is necessary. This may involve taking x-rays or using advanced imaging techniques to assess the quality and quantity of bone in the jaw.
  2. Incision: Local anesthesia is used to numb the area around the surgical site.Your dentist will make a small incision in the gum tissue to expose the jawbone.
  3. Bone graft placement: The bone graft material will be placed in the area where the implant will be inserted. The graft material may come from your own body, a donor, or synthetic materials.
  4. Closing the incision: The gum tissue will be sutured closed over the bone graft.

In some cases, dental implants can be placed immediately after bone grafting. This is known as immediate implant placement after bone grafting. However, this approach depends on several factors, including the amount of bone grafting required, the condition of the implant site, and the overall health of the patient.

Your dentist will evaluate your specific case and determine if immediate implant placement is possible or if a waiting period is necessary to ensure proper healing of the bone graft before placing the implant.

  1. Practice good oral hygiene
    Brush and floss your teeth regularly, avoiding the surgical site. Your dentist may also recommend using an antimicrobial mouthwash to help prevent infection.
  2. Avoid smoking
    Smoking can delay healing and increase the risk of complications. It is best to avoid smoking for at least a few days after the surgery.
  3. Attend follow-up appointments
    Your dentist will schedule follow-up appointments to check the progress of your bone graft and ensure proper healing. Attend these appointments as scheduled.