Oral surgery seems stressful at first, but really, it’s pretty easy. Here at 1st Classic Dental, we want our patients to rest assured when it comes to the safety and efficiency of their dental implant procedure. We want you to know that your surgery will be as quick, painless, and comfortable as possible. Continue reading to learn some of the basic details about dental implant placement.
Planning Your Procedure
The very first step after you make your decision to get dental implants is to schedule an appointment for a comprehensive evaluation. During this appointment, we will examine your mouth, teeth, and jaw as well as evaluate your medical and dental history. We will then take x-rays and scans of your jaw to determine whether or not you need a supplemental procedure.
Supplemental Procedures
In many cases, we will need to complete additional procedures prior to the dental implant surgery. Your jawbone must be strong and dense for the surgery to be successful, and if you’ve been missing teeth for a long time, chances are your jaw isn’t in prime shape. Luckily, Dr. Omaima Samain is an expert in bone graft procedures. He will graft donated bone into the deficient areas of your jaw, and once that heals, you will be ready to have the implants placed!
Placing the Fixture
The next step will be performed in our office with local anesthesia to help ensure a comfortable and pain-free experience. Once you are sufficiently comfortable, a small incision will be made in your gum tissue and the fixture or root piece will be attached to your jawbone. When this is complete, you will be sent home to heal while your jawbone fuses to the implant root.
Attaching the Abutment
Once gum tissues and the jawbone have healed, patients return to have a middle piece called an abutment attached. This sometimes requires a small incision if gum tissues have grown over the fixture piece. If that happens, a bit more healing time will be required. This phase is also important because the new replacement tooth is crafted during this stage to perfectly match the color, shape, size, and texture of your natural teeth.
Connecting the Crown
The last step involves carefully attaching your new tooth to the dental implant fixture that was previously attached to your jawbone. Once this final step is complete, your new smile will be ready to show off.
How Long Does it Take to Get Dental Implants?
The answer to this question depends on the patient’s dental health. If bone or gum tissues are in poor health, extra procedures like grafting of gum or bone may be required to strengthen your jaw and ensure the best possible chance of implant success. Although they are necessary, supplemental procedures can add up to 6 months to the total procedure healing time.
Get Started with a Consultation at 1st Classic Dental Associates Today
If you have missing teeth and live in the Sun City, Arizona area, we can’t wait to help you restore your smile with functional and natural-looking dental implants. Learn more about what makes a great dental implant candidate, read some of our FAQs, and when you’re ready, give us a call. We’re excited to get started on your dental implant journey with you!