What Are The Dental Implant Procedure Steps?
The dental implant procedure is highly personalized according to every individual’s needs. No two people are alike, and no two dental implant procedures are completely similar. The specific details of your dental implant procedure depend on numerous factors, such as your existing oral health, whether you need a tooth extraction and bone grafts, whether you need one or several dental implants, and more. Our dental implant surgeons will carefully examine your teeth and oral anatomy to curate the ideal dental implant procedure for you.
However, while we can’t describe exactly what will happen during your dental implant process, we can provide a general overview. This article offers an overview of the dental implant procedure steps, from the initial consultation to the final prosthetic placement. We have also included some steps that aren’t necessary for all people, such as tooth extraction and bone grafts. Furthermore, if you have optimal oral health, you might even be able to condense these steps in one dental implant session.
Please continue reading for a step-by-step overview of the dental implant procedure.
Step 1: Dental Implant Consultation
Your dental implant journey starts with a dental implant consultation. The dental implant surgeon will examine your teeth, run numerous tests, visualize your oral anatomy, and curate the ideal dental implant plan for you. The dental implant plan will involve determining if you’re a candidate for same-day dental implants, selecting the type of implants used and whether you need preliminary procedures, such as tooth extractions and bone grafts.
Step 2: Tooth Extraction (If Necessary)
Some patients need tooth extractions before dental implant surgery. You may need a tooth extraction if you get a dental implant immediately after the extraction. Otherwise, you may opt for a tooth extraction to make space for full-mouth dental implants or all-on-4 dental implants. During a tooth extraction, the dental implant surgeon uses simple or surgical techniques to extract the unwanted tooth.
Step 3: Bone Grafting Procedure (If Necessary)
You may need a bone grafting procedure before your dental implant surgery if you have insufficient jawbone tissues. If you don’t have enough jawbone tissues, your implant won’t be firmly grounded to your anatomy, increasing the risk of dental implant loss. During a bone grafting procedure, the dental implant surgeon attaches a bone grafting material to the implant socket to facilitate natural jawbone regeneration, improving your candidacy for dental implants.
Step 4: Dental Implant Surgery
During dental implant surgery, the dentist drills a hole into the jawbone underneath the empty socket of the missing tooth. The implant is placed inside the jawbone, following which the incisions are sutured closed. The jawbone tissues gradually heal around the implant via a process known as osseointegration. The osseointegration process happens in the background, so you’re not consciously aware of it happening.
Step 5: Abutment Placement
After dental implant surgery, once the recovery period is done, the dentist will attach an abutment to the implant. The abutment connects the dental implant to the prosthetic crown or bridge. After the abutment placement, the soft tissues are allowed to heal.
Step 7: Prosthetic Placement
Finally, the dental implant surgeon will provide the ideal prosthetics for your implants. Depending on your unique needs, you may receive dental crowns, dental bridges, or a denture for one, some, or all of your missing teeth. You can resume your daily activities immediately after prosthetic placement.
Are Dental Implants Safe?
Dental implants are completely safe. Dental implants have been used for decades, and most patients can go their entire lifetimes without encountering any problems or complications. Dental implants are successful in over 95% of all cases, and the remaining 5% of individuals may experience complications because of improper oral hygiene or poor dental surgery outcomes. You must visit the most reliable dental implant surgeons and maintain perfect oral hygiene to ensure your dental implants last a lifetime without complications.
What Is the Upside of Dental Implants?
Dental implants have numerous advantages. But the most important upside of dental implants is that they resemble the appearance, feeling, and functionality of natural teeth. Once the dental implant is placed, the natural jawbone tissues fuse in and around the dental implant’s surface, becoming an intrinsic part of your dental anatomy. Once the dental implant bonds with your jawbone tissues, it can support dental crowns, bridges, and dentures without any problems.
Dental implants allow you to eat and talk however you want, without fearing that the dentures might slide off. Furthermore, dental implants can also withstand complete bite force, so you don’t have to resign yourself to a lifetime of soft, mushy food — you can eat whatever you want. Most importantly, dental implants also support your underlying jawbone tissues and prevent them from getting reabsorbed by the body, which allows you to maintain optimal dental integrity.
Can Dental Implants be Done in One Day?
In most cases, the entire dental implant procedure takes several months and multiple dental visits. That’s because you have to wait for the osseointegration process to complete before the abutment and prosthetics are placed. However, in some cases, if the patient is completely healthy and all other conditions are optimal, the dentist can perform a same-day dental implant procedure, which involves placing the prosthetic elements immediately after dental implant surgery. Please ask your dental implant surgeon if you’re a candidate for same-day dental implants.
Your Dental Implant Procedure in Houston
VIP Dental Implants, affiliated with URBN Dental, is one of the leading dental implant clinics in Houston. We have state-of-the-art dental clinics in Midtown Houston and Uptown Houston, both led by highly-skilled dental implant surgeons with specialized training in implantology. Dr. Jiman Nelson, the leading dental implant surgeon in our clinics, curates highly personalized treatment plans according to your unique needs and goals, ensuring optimal results without complications. You can find him at our dental clinic in Uptown Houston — please schedule an appointment.
