What is the first step in getting dental implants?
The first step, obviously, you come in for a consultation. We will take a CT scan or 3D scan to evaluate your bone and the location of where the implant is going to go, and then we're going to do a 3D scan, like an intraoral scan, of your mouth and your teeth so that from there we can place where the implant is going to go.
Then I will create a treatment plan, where the implant is going to go, and we will send it to the lab to make a surgical guide. It takes about a week or so, and then we will schedule you back to get the implant placement.
We are also going to make sure that we prescribe you some premedication for you to take 1 hour before the implant placement appointment. On the day of, you will take that premedication. It's basically an antibiotic.
What happens during the implant placement procedure?
On the day of your appointment to get dental implants, we will get you set up by first numbing you. Make sure that you're comfortable, and then I'm going to put the surgical guide in, and then we're just going to start the step of placing the implant.
With the surgical guide, the procedure is very simple and fast. It literally will take about 15 to 20 minutes, including the numbing.
What happens after the dental implant is placed?
After your procedure, we will give you post-op instructions on how to care for it at home, and I will see you in one week. From that one week, we'll make sure that you are doing okay. We will do a follow-up phone call to make sure that you are comfortable at home. If you have any questions at all after that one-week checkup, then we will see you in one month, basically to take a dental X-ray to make sure that the implant is healing okay.
What happens at the four-month checkup after getting dental implants?
After the first month, we will let your mouth heal and plan to see you at your four-month post-op appointment. This four-month checkup is basically a test to make sure the implant is integrated with the bone. We test that, and then if it's integrated with the bone, then we will scan it for the lab to fabricate an implant crown.
It will take about 3 weeks or so for the lab to fabricate the dental implant crown. We'll give you a call when the crown comes in, and then we'll just seat it. The appointment is very short for the seating of the dental implant crown. It takes about 20 minutes or so, and then that will be the completion of the whole treatment. Then now you're going to have a crown there, and you can function, eat, and smile like normal teeth.
When is bone graft important?
Bone grafting is important to ensure that, if you don't have enough bone, we add additional bone so your implant is surrounded by good bone. When you come in with the initial exam with the 3D CT scan, I will be able to evaluate that.
Can a tooth be removed and an implant placed the same day?
If you have a bad tooth and would like it removed, we can remove it and place the implant on the same day. Sometimes when you don't have enough bone around, we also are going to add a bone graft in addition to placing the implant the same day to ensure that you have good, solid bone around the implant.
What are the options to replace missing teeth?
There are three options to replace missing teeth:
- The best option ultimately is a dental implant.
- The second option is doing a multi-unit bridge. It's basically crowns that connect to each other to replace that missing tooth or missing teeth.
- The last option, which could be the cheapest option, however, is not very comfortable, is a partial denture or a complete denture to replace a whole arch.
What are the pros and cons of a partial or complete denture?
The pro of partial or complete dentures is that they are the cheapest. However, the con is that it's not very comfortable, you need to take it in and out, and sometimes it may not look very natural.
What are the pros and cons of a bridge?
The bridge is the second good option. However, it requires involving the adjacent teeth. Because we need to use those two adjacent teeth to connect them with the bridge to replace that missing tooth for you.
Why is a dental implant the best option?
Ultimately, the best option is a dental implant because it's an individual tooth. You can floss, it's acting like a normal tooth, like an individual normal tooth. You don't need to involve the two adjacent teeth, and you can floss and take care of it individually.
What is recovery like after dental implant placement?
With the technology that we use with the surgical guide, it's a very fast and simple procedure. Because it's a fast, simple procedure, the healing will be very good.
In all the cases we've done so far, patients may complain of some soreness the first day after the implant is placed, once the numbness wears off, but by the next day they're back to normal.
It also depends if you're doing something like taking the tooth out and placing the implant the same day. It's probably going to take you a couple of days to recover from the tooth extraction. But other than that, it's very smooth and simple, and the recovery probably will take you, at the most, a couple of days.
How do you take care of a dental implant?
A dental implant, as I said, is like an individual artificial tooth. It's like your own tooth. You still need to take good care of it. Flossing, brushing very well, then you will have it last really long.
How long does a dental implant last?
The longevity of a dental implant is more than 20 years. However, if you don't take good care of it, if you are smoking, if you are not brushing or flossing well, obviously, you're going to lose the bone around the dental implant screw, the titanium screw, then your implant will become loose, or your gum around that will be bleeding. Then you may lose that dental implant sooner. But if you take care of it as your own natural tooth, it will last you a very long time.
Can a dental implant get a cavity?
A dental implant is an artificial tooth. It has a crown and a screw that connects to the dental titanium screw. It's all titanium and metal. So there is no cavity going to develop. But you may have periodontitis if you don't take care of the implant with flossing and brushing.
How much does a dental implant cost?
A lot of the time, patients think it's very expensive to get a dental implant. But if it's compared with the bridge, the dental implant is not that much different. If you have more questions about how much it costs, give us a call, and we will be happy to give you a free consultation, and then we can see whether you are a good candidate for a dental implant or not, and our team can also do some good planning financially for you to help you fix your missing tooth. There are basically different ways to help you achieve that goal.
Does dental insurance cover dental implants?
Most insurance does cover the cost of dental implants. We would like to know what your insurance is so we can look up the benefits for it. Sometimes, different companies provide different dental plans. Some plans don't cover dental implants, but the majority of them do. You can let us know what your dental insurance would be, and we're happy to look it up for you.
Learn More About Dental Implants at First Smile Family Dental
If you're looking for dental care you can trust, call us at (253) 544-4073 or email [email protected]. We're here to help you have the smile you've always wanted!