Unlike natural teeth, dental implants aren’t at risk for tooth decay.
During the initial consultation, we will take a thorough exam of your mouth. This includes taking x-rays so that your doctor can assess your oral health and jaw bone density. To be a good candidate for dental implants, good oral health is important. Your dentist will go over your exam with you and discuss if you meet the requirements of dental implants, or go over alternative treatment options.
After your consultation, we will provide a detailed, personalized treatment plan and schedule your appointment for oral surgery. Before the procedure, your dentist will create a small incision in the gum line. This incision is where your dentist will carefully place the implant into your jaw bone. The implant, a screw-shaped titanium post, will bond with your natural bone. Then your incision will be cleaned and disinfected so the healing process can safely begin.
Your gums will begin healing immediately after the implants have been placed. It takes about 2 weeks or less to heal after the procedure. However, for the implant to permanently bond with the jaw, a process called “osseointegration,” it will take between 3 to 6 months.
Throughout the healing process, you’ll visit our office several times so that we can ensure that the implant is successfully bonding with your jaw. To check this, your dentist will take impressions of your bite. We will then send those impressions to our trusted dental lab where they will create the custom dental prosthetic that will connect to your dental implant.
When the bonding process is complete and we receive your completed dental prosthetic, you’ll return for your final visit. Your dentist will then affix the restoration to your implant and secure it with an adhesive (usually a dental cement). This will permanently secure the restoration to your dental implant. After this, you’ll walk out of our practice with a smile that you are satisfied with!
When it comes to maintenance and aftercare, dental implants don’t require any special care. Incorporating good oral hygiene practices can assure that your implants last a lifetime! Just be sure to brush twice a day, or preferably after every meal, and floss daily. It would also be beneficial to schedule dental exams every six months for routine cleanings and exams. Practicing good dental hygiene is the best way to keep your implants healthy so that they can withstand for a lifetime!
For many patients, dental implants can last a lifetime.
Titanium is durable, light, and biocompatible.