people beautiful smile with coffee, North Peace Dental and Implant Centre, Fort St John, BC, Canada

The Dental Implant Journey: Implant Surgery

Implant Fixture Placement

Know what to expect in your dental implant surgery

Implants are placed under local anaesthetic (freezing) into the alveolar bone, a crucial step in the implant treatment process. At North Peace Dental and Implant Centre, this procedure is meticulously planned using digital technology. Over the past 30+ years, the success rate of these implants has ranged from 95-98%. The entire procedure is scheduled for 2-3 hours including recovery time, with the surgical process itself taking about 1 hour.

Implant Fixture Placement Surgery_North Peace Dental and Implant Centre_Fort St John, BC, Canada

Bone Graft and Sinus Lift

Additional procedures that might be required during the implant surgery

Sometimes additional procedure such as bone graft or sinus lift is necessary. A bone graft is used to enhances the height and volume of the alveolar bone, providing a solid base for the implant. A sinus lift increases the bone height at the sinus floor to accommodate implants in the upper premolar and molar area. Whenever feasible, these procedures are combined with the implant surgery. This approach allows patients to benefit from a single recovery period and a shorter overall treatment time, contributing to a more efficient process and optimizing the chances of a successful dental implant placement.

Bone Graft and Sinus Lift Surgery_North Peace Dental and Implant Centre_Fort St John, BC, Canada

Instruction for Oral Sedation

Create a calm and comfortable experience for patients

Patients who feel anxious about their implant surgery are encouraged to consider oral sedation for a more comfortable experience. If oral sedation was used during the surgery, it may cause a prolonged sedative effect for 12-24 hours afterward, leading to drowsiness and impaired coordination or awareness. Patients should be monitored by another adult throughout their recovery and should avoid operating a motor vehicle or engaging in high-risk activities until fully recovered.

Instruction for Oral Sedation_North Peace Dental and Implant Centre_Fort St John, BC, Canada

Implant Surgery Complications

Potential complications and management for implant surgery

As the surgical process is limited by the biology and anatomy of the patient, certain locations in the mouth pose higher risk for surgery. Side effects might occur including infections, injury to adjacent teeth, damage to surrounding bone, and nasal sinus involvement. In rare cases, numbness of the lip, tongue, chin, cheek, or teeth may occur, and it may take 6-24 months for healing or sometimes the change of sensation might be permanent.

Implant Surgery Complications and Management_North Peace Dental and Implant Centre_Fort St John, BC, Canada