Once you lose your adult tooth, you lose it forever. However, this doesn’t mean you lose your smile, too. Dental implants are excellent solutions for rebuilding your smile, whether you have lost one or multiple teeth.
Understanding the dental implant procedure helps patients know what to expect during treatment. The implant process involves multiple steps over several months, each critical to achieving successful, long-lasting results. To learn more about implant treatment options, visit our dental implant treatment page.
The dental implant procedure: What should I expect?
For many years, bridges and dentures were the only options for replacing teeth. However, in the mid-1960s, dental implants came onto the scene, and their popularity has been growing ever since. Dentists and patients prefer dental implants because they are permanent, natural-looking, stable, and provide long-term solutions for tooth replacement.
But what does it take to place an implant? Here’s what you can expect.
- Consultation and treatment planning: Your treatment starts with a consultation with your dentist. The dentist will examine your oral health, medical history, and other factors to ensure you are eligible for implants. Potential implant users must have a healthy jawbone to support a 6-15mm titanium post. Otherwise, bone grafting may be needed to rebuild the jawbone. After consultation, the dentist will plan treatment to determine where and how to place the implants. Like every successful project, precise implant planning is the key to successful outcomes.
- Implant surgery: The dentist places a “tissue-friendly” titanium post at a precise location in the jawbone. Implant surgery is an intricate procedure. The dentist must place the titanium post at an optimal angle, depth, and position for durable and functional results. Although the dental implant procedure is surgical, modern anesthesia and pain management techniques ensure patient comfort throughout the procedure.
- Healing and fusion: Over the next few months, the gum tissues will heal, and the titanium post will fuse with the jawbone to form an unbreakable union. After osseointegration, your implant will be stable enough to support one or more replacement teeth.
- Abutment placement: Once the implants heal, you’ll return to the office for abutment placement. This minor surgery involves opening up your gums to reveal the underlying implant. Then, the dentist will attach a small metal connector to your implant, which protrudes above the gum line to link with the prosthetic teeth.
- Implant restoration: Yay! The most exciting phase of your implant procedure. The dentist will restore your implant(s) with a customized, natural-looking restoration. Your new tooth will look, feel, and work just like the tooth you lost.
Learn More About Dental Implants
If you want to learn more about dental implants, visit our Dental Implants in Encinitas page or schedule a consultation.
