Dental Tooth Implant Process Explained: From Consultation to Recovery
Getting a dental implant requires a lot of research and planning (which can also help you manage nervousness!) Planning your surgical procedure means being able to map your process from start to finish. So, let’s discuss all the phases of your dental tooth implant so you know what to expect.
Dental Implant Process Step by Step
Here’s your dental implant process timeline:
1. Consultation and Testing
We perform detailed assessments to ensure a successful implant. This consultation involves:
- Diagnostics: We will take your dental X-rays and 3-D images. We may also make molds of your teeth and jaw.
- Medical History: We’ll explore any medical conditions and medications (prescriptions and over-the-counter) you may have. If you have a heart condition, or bone or joint implants, we may prescribe antibiotics before surgery to prevent infections.
- Treatment Plan: Next, we’ll develop your treatment plan. We’ll see if you need teeth extractions and examine the health of your gums, jawbone, and remaining teeth.
- Surgery Procedures: We’ll explain your surgery’s phases, including the best type of anesthesia (local anesthesia, sedation, or general anesthesia). Local anesthesia only numbs the surgery area, sedation calms you, and general anesthesia puts you in a sleeplike state.
- Finances: Finally, we’ll discuss the associated costs and suitable payment arrangements.
2. Preparation
Preparation is critical in the process of dental implants. For instance, you may need to extract a damaged tooth before your implant.
Also, if you suffer from jawbone loss, you will need a preliminary bone grafting procedure. This graft creates a solid foundation for your implant.
We can use various materials to rebuild your jawbone:
- A natural bone graft from another part of your body;
- A synthetic bone graft or bone substitute to promote new bone growth;
- A bone from a human donor or an animal source.
It could take several months for the grafted bone to grow sufficient new bone to support your dental implant. If you only need minor bone grafting, we will perform the procedure at the same time as your implant surgery.
3. Surgery
For your dental implant surgery, you can expect us to:
- Administer anesthesia: On the day of your surgery, we’ll administer the anesthesia suitable for your procedure. We often use sedation or general anesthesia for dental implants.
- Create an incision: We will cut into your gum to expose the jawbone underneath for your implant.
- Prepare your jawbone: We drill a small hole into your jawbone using specialized instruments.
- Insert your dental implant: Next, we carefully place the screw-shaped, titanium post into your jawbone. The post fits into your bone, serving as the artificial tooth root.
- Close the incision: Finally, we reposition your gum tissue and close the incision with dissolvable stitches.
If your dental implant is close to the front of your mouth, we will insert a temporary tooth.
4. Recovery
During the healing phase (or osseointegration), your bone grows around and fuses onto your dental implant. This process takes between three to nine months. Osseointegration solidifies your new tooth root and ensures a long-lasting dental implant.
5. Crown Placement
Inserting your crown is a momentous occasion! But you may need minor surgery under local anesthesia to place the abutment. This abutment is the connector between your implant’s post and the crown.
We’ll reopen your gum to expose the post, attach the abutment, and stitch up your gum tissue around the abutment. After another two weeks of healing, it’s time to place your permanent crown onto the abutment. Placing your crown takes about an hour.
NOTE: We can also attach the abutment when we insert your dental implant’s post. This would eliminate the minor surgery to place your crown. But the abutment visibly sticks past your gum line until your crown is placed onto it. So, it’s a matter of personal preference.
6. Follow-up
The follow-up is the final phase in the process of dental implants. These visits ensure that you don’t experience complications.
Some complications that could arise after your dental implant, include:
- Infection: Your implant site could become infected. Treating a bacterial infection in your gum may require antibiotics or even a soft tissue graft. Yet, an infection in your jawbone can lead to implant failure and require bone and soft tissue grafts.
- Gum recession: Your gum line could recede around the implant, leading to painful inflammation. In such cases, we may need to remove your implant.
- Loose implant: If your implant doesn’t integrate into your jawbone, we’ll remove it. But don’t worry! We can reattempt your implant after the site heals.
- Nerve damage: Injury to the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) in your lower jaw can be severe. Signs of nerve damage may include persistent numbness, tingling, pain, and discomfort around your implant and within your lower lip and chin.
Other less common complications may include sinus issues and damage to the dental implant.
Therefore, you must attend all your follow-up dental visits. Doing so will help us quickly identify and resolve issues to ensure that you have a successful dental implant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about the process for dental implants:
What happens in an implant consultation?
We will take your dental X-rays, 3-D images, and dental molds. We’ll also complete a detailed medical review, develop your treatment plan, explain your surgery, and discuss your costs and payment arrangements.
How long does a dental implant consultation take?
This consultation may take an hour but can take up to two hours. We’ll assess your oral health, discuss your treatment options, and determine if dental implants are the best for you.
What happens if you smoke during the dental implant process?
Smoking increases the risk of infection, compromised bone density, and implant failure. This is because nicotine narrows your blood vessels and reduces your oxygenated blood flow that’s crucial to healing your implant site.
Master Your Dental Implant Process
Your dental tooth implant involves several steps, and we will prepare you to complete each phase. Choose Paramount Implant Center for comprehensive and professional dental care. Let’s discuss how we can restore your smile and enhance your well-being.