Dental implants are installed using a simple surgery, usually performed while the patient is under general anesthesia. While the surgery is minor, the dentist or oral surgeon performing it must be skilled and take great care not to damage the jaw or the nerves running through the jawbone. This is why it’s crucial to find the right UK dentist to perform the procedure.
The surgery starts with the gums at the site of the dental implant being cut into two flaps and opened. This exposes the jawbone, where the implant will be anchored. A small diameter hole is first drilled into the bone, to serve as a pilot hole for the screw that acts as the root of the implant. The hole is then slowly widened, with a series of larger drill bits, until the hole is the correct size for the screw implant. It must be drilled this way to avoid cracking or damaging the jawbone.
Once the screw is placed into the hole, a cover screw is added to protect the titanium while it heals and bonds to the bone. The gums are closed, and healing can begin. Once the teeth implant is securely bonded to the bone, the gum is cut slightly to remove the cover screw, and a dental appliance can be attached.