Dental Implants

While the implant process is relatively invasive, the benefits of the procedure are worth the effort and we’ll work with you to make it as comfortable and quick as possible. The full treatment for dental implants will require multiple dentist visits. Once you’ve decided on dental implants, here’s what to expect:

Before Your Implants

During your first appointment, your dentist will take digital X-rays, evaluate your jawbone, and make impressions of your natural teeth’s shape and color. You may meet with specialists such as a periodontist to evaluate the health of your gums before moving forward with implants. At this appointment, you’ll also have the chance to talk through your current health situations, including any medications you take, to ensure there’s nothing of concern.

It may also be necessary to remove teeth before your implants can be placed. This can be done on the same day as your implant surgery but won’t always be. If it’s not on the same day, you must be careful to avoid activities that may cause infection in your mouth such as smoking, spitting and drinking through a straw. Your dentist will administer a local anesthetic to make tooth removal as comfortable as possible. You may also need a bone graft before your implants if your bone is not strong enough to support new hardware. If this is the case, you will need to wait for the graft to heal before getting implants.

The Implant Procedure

The implants you receive will either be inserted directly into your jawbone or inserted just below the gumline. First, your oral surgeon will incise down to the bone in order to make holes for the implant. Metal posts will be placed into the holes as a base for the implant. Then, you’ll need to wait up to a few months for this stage to heal. This is the longest part of the process because everyone heals at different rates. In the meantime, you’ll have the option to wear a denture.

When your mouth has healed, the abutment will be placed into the metal implant. The abutment is what attaches the crown, also known as your new tooth, to the implants in your jaw. This is typically an outpatient surgery and will need about two weeks to heal.

Finally, it will be time to place your new tooth. The tooth should perfectly fit into your mouth and match the color of your natural teeth. Your dentist will check all of this in a followup appointment to be sure the results are as expected.

Afterwards

It is normal to experience bruising, swelling, minor bleeding and pain after the implant process is complete. You may be given medication to mitigate the pain as you recover. We recommend staying in contact with your oral surgeon and dentist to be sure your healing is on track. When your mouth is feeling better, you should be able to continue your normal dental routines as usual!