Patient guide
What a dental implant is and what parts it has
A dental implant is a titanium screw that replaces the root of the lost tooth, and on which a crown is later placed. They are two separate pieces with separate timings: first the implant integrates into the bone, and only when that integration is confirmed is the tooth you will actually see made.
That distinction explains many of the questions about timescales and quotes. When you compare two offers, always check whether the price includes the crown, the prior planning and the check-ups, because an implant without a crown is not a tooth.
What computer-guided surgery adds
Guided surgery means planning the exact position of the implant in 3D before entering the mouth and transferring that plan to a surgical guide that directs placement. Compared with freehand technique it reduces the margin of error, shortens surgery time and makes recovery easier.
The starting point is the study: 3D CT (CBCT) and intraoral scanning. On that model we decide where the implant goes, respecting the nerve, neighbouring roots and the future prosthesis. It is a decision made on screen, with time, not on the fly.
- Virtual planning of the implant on 3D CT and intraoral scan.
- Surgical guide that transfers that plan to the mouth.
- Less chair time and faster recovery.
- The position is decided with the future crown already in mind.
How long the whole process takes, step by step
From implant placement to the final crown usually takes three to six months, depending on the case and bone quality. That time is not empty waiting: it is osseointegration, the period in which bone bonds to the implant and which determines how it holds up afterwards.
If there is not enough available bone, the plan may include a prior step — a bone graft or a sinus lift — and that lengthens the calendar. It is exactly the kind of thing that shows up on the CT in the study, and that we would rather tell you at the start than halfway through.
What maintenance an implant needs
An implant does not decay, but the bone and gum holding it can become diseased, and that is the most frequent cause of long-term problems. That is why maintenance is not optional: careful daily hygiene around the area and periodic check-ups at the clinic.
At MiD first-year check-ups are included, and at them we verify the gum, the fit of the crown and the state of the surrounding bone. If something starts to move or bother you, we want to see it early.
