If you’re considering dental implants for the first time, you may not be familiar with how the procedure goes.
Unlike removable dentures and bridges, implants are a permanent solution that restores your tooth for the rest of your life. They can replace a tooth or multiple natural teeth that are damaged, broken, or chipped beyond repair.
They have a longer timeline but are worthwhile by saving you time and embarrassment for years to come.
Our dental professionals are here to let you know what to expect from the procedure and how you can prepare.
You deserve to know about dental implant procedures and the recovery process so you can go through them with confidence.
The Step-by-step Dental Implant Process
Getting a dental implant is a straightforward procedure with 5-easy steps that restore your tooth. You’ll encounter a much more complicated and expensive process if the office refers you to a surgeon.
Thankfully, dentist specialists in Mesa like Dr. Smith can conduct the entire implant process in-house. He’ll take care of you from the consultation all the way to placing the crown and recovery.
1). Completing the consultation
First, the dentist ensures you’re capable of having an implant installed. They take x-rays and impressions of your jawbone and teeth to double-check so you can move forward with the procedure.
If you don’t have enough cartilage, the dentist will suggest sinus augmentation or bone grafting to get started.
2). Placing the dental implant
By drilling a hole into the jawbone, a dental professional makes away for a metal implant. It acts as the artificial tooth root and the future implant site for the abutment and crown.
3). Waiting for bone growth
You must wait 3-6 months before continuing the procedure to allow the jawbone to grow around the implant. The implant must become a permanent part of your mouth. Otherwise, there’s a chance it could fall out.
4). Placing the abutment
A dental professional attaches an abutment to the implant after jawbone growth has occurred. In some cases, you can receive the abutment at the same time as the implant.
5). Placing the crown
The final step of the dental implant procedure is to place the fake tooth, also known as the crown, on the abutment to act as a natural tooth. Smile proudly with family and coworkers after having finished the dental implant process.
You’ll return to the dental specialists and continue a long-term treatment plan that preserves the implant and prevents future gum disease.
How to Prepare for a Dental Implant Procedure
Depending on your surgery details and the type of dental implant, you’ll encounter different advice to prepare. The dentist and/or oral surgeon will walk you through the procedure and prep beforehand so you know what to expect.
Don’t expect the same process as a dental bridge or dentures since you’re installing a lifelong artificial tooth.
Location
It’s wise to get an implant done at a dental office in your local area. If you’re in Mesa, Tempe, or Chandler, our friendly team would be glad to see you for convenience-sake.
Food and drink
Some patients may need anesthesia or IV sedation before the implant installation. We recommend either eating a light meal or not eating anything at all to not disturb your stomach the next day.
Dental professional
Choose your dental professional carefully. They must be a tooth expert you trust with an oral hygiene investment costing a few thousand dollars.
We also recommend working with an office that can complete the entire implant procedure in-house. You can save more by working in a single office rather than paying for an expensive surgeon.
Medications
Prepare to take antibiotics before the implant procedure in some cases. The dental professional may believe you’re a good candidate to prevent future implant failure.
You may also need to swish your mouth with chlorhexidine, an antibacterial mouthwash.
Recovery from a Dental Implant
The initial pain after the procedure may be frustrating but it’s worthwhile by making way as a permanent tooth solution. Be wary of the following symptoms that our patients have experienced after the dental implant surgery:
- Minor bleeding
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Pain
With IV sedation and local anesthesia, you may feel more tired and groggy than usual. We suggest bringing someone along that can drive you home after the surgery.
Ibuprofen, Advil, and other painkillers can ease your suffering until the new artificial teeth heal. If you experience unbearable aching where the new implant has been installed, speak with a dental professional as soon as possible.
Book Your Implant with a Dental Expert
Dental implant procedures are a big deal. They can restore your damaged, cracked, or missing tooth for the rest of your life if done correctly.
You wouldn’t want to leave the job to a junior dentist who doesn’t know they are doing.
Dr. Nathan Smith is an expert dentist and successor to the late Dr. Frank Brinkman. He is classically trained both as an oral health surgeon and dentist to offer procedures at a fraction of the cost.
Go through each step of the procedure knowing Dr. Smith’s warm chairside manners will cheer you up. You’ll be in and out with almost no wait time and begin the implant process early in the morning or during lunch breaks.
Schedule your implant consultation today and start the process by calling (480)-838-3033.