The dental implant process requires multiple visits, oral surgery, and several months to complete. This process takes longer than getting traditional restorations. But dental implant-supported restorations offer more benefits and will last much longer.
Dr. Drew Shulman, a Northeast Philadelphia dentist, offers dental implants for patients looking for the best long-term solution for missing teeth. This is the number one recommended tooth replacement solution available today. To get an idea of what to expect, below are all the steps in the dental implant process.
Happy dental patient before and after getting dental implants from Dr. Drew Shulman.
The Dental Implant Process
You can get a custom implant restoration in multiple visits to our office. Dr. Shulman will help you through your journey so you’re prepared for treatment and get the best results. We welcome you to learn about the steps of the dental implant process in our Philadelphia, PA, office.
Implant Consultation
The first step in the process is to meet with Dr. Shulman for a consultation. He’ll do a comprehensive oral health exam, take X-rays, and might take impressions of your teeth. Then, he’ll create a detailed treatment plan to outline your specific case. Dr. Shulman will tailor your treatment plan to your needs.
Treatment planning is the most important step in the entire process. Dr. Shulman must do accurate and precise planning to ensure predictable results. He uses digital imaging to determine the number, size, and placement of each implant. Dr. Shulman will review the rest of the process with you and give you an idea of how long it will take to get your new teeth.
Teeth Extractions or Bone Grafting
Then, Dr. Shulman will move to preparation. He can provide pretreaments to prepare your mouth for the surgical procedure. For example, Dr. Shulman can address tooth damage, gum problems, and bone loss. He may perform a bone graft to build up your jaw bone, treat gum disease, or remove problem teeth.
You need to be in good oral health to be a candidate for dental implants. If you don’t need additional procedures, we’ll move on to the teeth implant placement phase.
Dental Implants Placement
Our dentist will surgically place the implant posts in their location along the jaw during this appointment. The implant posts will secure a dental restoration and replace the tooth root. We’ll sedate you and numb the area around the surgical site for your comfort. It takes about an hour to place a single implant, and takes longer if you’re getting multiple implants.
After implant surgery, you need time to heal. The implants will fuse with the surrounding jaw bone during a process called osseointegration. Healing time will vary from patient to patient, but it oftentimes takes from three to six months. We may place a temporary crown, bridge, or denture based on the location of your missing teeth.
Placing the Abutment
Once your implants heal, our dentist will uncover each implant. Then, he’ll attach a small connector piece called an abutment to the post. In some cases, he’ll immediately connect the abutment to the dental implant post during the implant placement.
We’ll take additional impressions after your gums heal. The lab technician will use the new impressions to fabricate your final dental restoration.
Placement of the Dental Restoration
Dr. Shulman will secure your replacement teeth at the final placement appointment at our Northeast Philadelphia dental office. If you had only one missing tooth, he’ll attach the custom dental crown to the single implant. He’ll attach a dental bridge to the two or more implants if you had several consecutive missing teeth. He can also attach a new implant denture if you were missing most or all your teeth.
Schedule an Appointment
If you have questions about the dental implant process in our Philadelphia, PA, dental office call us today. You can also request an appointment online. We’re here to make your implant treatment as smooth as possible.
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