Dental Implants 2-Stage Surgery by Dr Chan Joon Yee This is by far the safest technique favoured by the most experienced implant practitioners who have seen all the good, bad and ugly. With this technique, the implant is placed into the bone just as in the 1-stage technique. However, instead of placing a healing/temporary abutment over the freshly placed implant, the fixture is completely covered by suturing the cut edges of the gums together. The implant cover screw may be visible through thin gums, but most of it will not be seen. Thus, a second stage surgery (a very minor one) is required to uncover the implant. In many cases, the uncovering procedure will take place about 2 to 3 months after the first stage surgery. In cases that require bone grafting, the implant may need to remain buried for 6 months before the 2nd stage surgery can take place. Once the implant is uncovered, a healing/temporary abutment is placed over it. The defining difference between one and 2-stage surgery, is that in the latter technique, the healing/temporary abutment is placed only after osseointegration. For the patient, it is an extra step. For the surgeon, it's a safer technique. A few weeks after the healing abutment is placed, the gums would have formed nicely around the implant. It is ready for crown fabrication. Grafting, Non-grafting cases For cases without bone grafting, the implant practitioner usually decides to bury the implant because of poor bone quality and/or the lack of implant stability before integration. A slightly mobile implant does not need any stress from a healing abutment. It is best to defer the placement of the healing abutment until the implant is integrated and no longer mobile. A very mobile one must certainly lie undisturbed with bone graft underneath the gums for 6 months. Should you go for one or 2-stage surgery? Let your dentist decide. In the presence of any biological risk factors, it is always safer to go for 2-stage surgery. More on dental implants here Please call 62358316 for appointments or email us if you have any questions.