Understanding the Dental Implant Procedure

The process for getting the full dental implant includes several months. First, the dentist will implant the screw into your jawbone. They, you have to wait for the screw to heal and fuse with the jawbone. The fusing process can take several months. Once that’s done, you can get your abutment and crown.

In some cases, the dentist can place the titanium screw directly into your empty tooth socket. However, this can only happen if there is sufficient bone structure in that area. If you need a bone graft, you will need to wait between three and six months to begin the implant process.

No. Dr. Wilson will use anesthesia so you remain comfortable throughout the entire procedure. Also, sedation dentistry is an option for patients with dental anxiety. Following the implant procedure, you can expect some discomfort, but this can be treated with over-the-counter analgesics such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

Keep in mind that one implant replaces one tooth. So, if you are missing one tooth, you need one implant. If you’re missing two or more teeth, you’ll need more implants or implant-supported dentures for the missing teeth. 

To qualify for dental implants, patients need to have enough bone to plant the titanium screw. Dr. Wilson will thoroughly examine your mouth to make sure you’re ready for implants. If you don’t have enough bone, you may need a bone graft, which will add time to the dental implant procedure.