Dental implants are considered the gold standard for dental restorations, providing aesthetically superior results that also confer considerable benefits beyond simply restoring a sparkling smile. Dental implants are a permanent dental restoration, which means they’re designed to last a lifetime, but proper care is an integral part of their long-term success. It’s also important to have your dental implant treatment planned and implemented by a qualified, comprehensive dental implant team. To ensure the success of dental implants over the long term, and to guarantee the best possible cosmetic and functional results, the team of health providers will communicate with one another throughout the dental implant treatment. A typical dental implant treatment plan will require radiographic images like x-rays, a minimum of one surgical procedure and possibly more, and aesthetic and design abilities. Each of these procedures may include more than one medical practitioner; for any surgery, an anesthesiologist and a surgeon, at the very least, will be included in the surgical team, for example. Some dental implants treatments require additional procedures to prepare the oral cavity for implants in one way or another, by treating existing periodontal disease, restoring the bone in the jaw with bone regeneration treatments like bone grafts and guided tissue regeneration, extracting decayed teeth, or other auxiliary treatments, and each of these treatments could include additional members of your dental implant team. Thankfully, the implant team coordinator will keep everything organized and make sure you’re on track for a successful, comfortable procedure, but you should remember that you’re also a part of your dental implant team and need to do your part by taking care of your dental implants properly.
While some general dentists could perform simple implant restorations on their own, the most successful dental implant treatments are performed by restorative dentists working with specialists across the necessary dental and medical fields throughout the duration of treatment. At your initial dental implant consultation, you and your restorative dentist will go over the treatment options that exist and that might work for you. Your dentist will collaborate with an oral and maxillofacial surgeon and craft your customized dental implant plan, including the necessary team members at each step. Before any dental implant surgery, the patient will have x-rays taken of their oral cavity, and in many cases, dentists will take 3D x-rays or use other imaging technologies for a comprehensive view of the dentition and oral cavity. If auxiliary procedures like bone grafts are recommended, the time required for these procedures and their necessary healing times are factored into the expected duration of treatment.
Once dental implants are placed, it can take up to six months for them to heal, and patients commonly receive a temporary crown or dental bridge to keep the surgical site safe and clean and to allow them to function normally while they wait for their permanent restoration. As the implant heals, the bone that supports it fuses with the implant material and creates an everlasting bond, and the healing process is a crucial factor in the long-term success of any dental implant treatment. Your restorative dentist will work closely with the dental lab that makes your dental prosthetic, making sure your dental implant crown is beautiful and functional. Because of all of these factors that contribute to a successful dental implant treatment, a number of specialists may be included on your dental implant team. These specialists could include, in addition to the restorative dentist, a surgical specialist, lab technicians from a variety of areas, a dental hygienist, and a dental assistant. The business staff of the dental practice is included in the dental implant team, as they play a major role in ensuring communication between the dentist and the patient. Some dental implant teams could also include an endodontist, an orthodontist, or another dental specialist, depending on the needs of the patient.
At the beginning of a dental implant treatment, the restorative dentist usually takes on the role of team coordinator, working with the dental hygienist and dental assistant to screen patients and determine their eligibility for dental implant treatment. These team members should be familiar enough with the patient to know of any considerations that should be addressed by other members of the dental implant team and to make the appropriate referrals, maintaining communication with other health providers throughout the treatment. Once the dental implant treatment has come to an end, the dental hygienist will take over as team coordinator, providing care and instructions for maintenance and looping in other implant team members when needed. Your dental hygienist will assess your gums, teeth, and dental implants, possibly ordering x-rays to make sure the bones are healthy, too. When needed, they will communicate with other members of the dental implant team, maintaining an effective circle of communication and playing an instrumental role in the success of the dental implant treatment.