Do you have a missing tooth that you want to fix, but you are not happy with the idea of a dental bridge or partial denture? If so, a dental implant may be the best option for you. Here is an overview of what will happen when you get dental implants.

Initial Consultation

Everything starts with an initial consultation with your dentist to find out if you really want a dental implant and if you are a good candidate. That's because the dentist needs to check your mouth to make sure that you are healthy since there are oral health problems that can disqualify you from getting a dental implant. For example, if you have an issue with gum disease or issues with the structure of your jaw bone that cannot support an implant. 

Scanning

If you decide to move forward with a dental implant, the dentist will need to take some digital scans of your mouth to determine the process that will be used moving forward. This can be done with a handheld 3D scanner or with a CT scan of your mouth. While a CT scan is not always necessary, it can give your dentist a very accurate view of the inside of your mouth. It lets them know the overall bone density, which can help them plan for what size dental implant to use.

A CT scan can also let a dentist know if you are lacking the necessary bone density in the area where the implant will be placed. If there is not a lot of bone density, then a bone graft will be necessary. A bone graft procedure can take several months to heal before you can proceed with the dental implant procedure. 

Surgery 

The next step will be to get the surgery where the titanium implant is placed into your jawbone. This will involve creating an opening in your gums, inserting the dental implant, and then closing the gums over the insertion site. You don't have the post for the implant sticking out of your gums during the healing process, which can take several months for the implant to fully integrate with the jawbone. 

Return Visit

You'll come back to the dentist after several months to check on how the healing process is going. If it looks like you are ready for the final dental implant, you'll have another scan taken of your mouth to capture the size of the spot where the artificial tooth will go. It will take a couple of weeks for this artificial tooth to be made. You'll then return to the dentist so that the implant site can be opened up. The artificial tooth is then screwed into the implant to give you a permanent restoration.

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