Dental Implant Procedure

Implant Placement

Your tooth has been extracted and you are ready to get it replaced. The first step is the surgical placement of the implant. The dentist will be surgically placing the implant in the jaw. This does require drilling as the implant must fit correctly into the jawbone, acting like the root of your new tooth. The placement of the implant is where the real expertise of the implant comes in. There are many nerves and sensitive areas in the mouth and the dentists job is to make sure the implant goes in without damaging those areas. This requires expert knowledge of the mouth, along with the assistance of technology (3D imaging), and years of implant experience. It’s important to note that bone grafting may be required either before or during the implant placement. If grafting is needed the Doctor will discuss it with you beforehand.

Healing and Recovery

Once the implant is in place it is time to heal. This is critical during the dental implant procedure. You have to let the bone in your jaw grow around the implant. This takes Several months but is what makes a dental implant so strong and why implants are highly recommended as the best tooth replacement option. This process can take a few months. Don’t worry , you will have a “healing cap” to protect the implant while it heals and a temporary crown so it doesn’t look like you have a missing tooth in the process. Once it’s healed, it’s time to move on to step 3.

Crown Placement

This is what you’ve been waiting for! The dentist will create a custom crown for you that will look, feel, and act like your new tooth. If you are replacing more than one tooth then a bridge or denture may be needed. What is most important about this step is that you will leave the dentist’s office with your new tooth. No one will be able to tell that you ever had a missing tooth in the first place. The process is complete.