Understanding the Dental Implant Restoration Process

Dental implants have quickly become the most popular choice for restoring a smile that is missing one or more teeth. Implant-supported restorations (such as dental crowns, dental bridges, or dentures) feel, look, and work just like natural teeth. However, patients should thoroughly understand the process of restoring a smile with dental implants before deciding whether or not they are the right treatment option.  

The Dental Implant Process

Consultation

The treatment process begins with a consultation. During this appointment, we evaluate the patient's oral health, take diagnostic images, and develop a personalized treatment plan.  

Possible Bone Grafting and Extraction

In some cases, patients might require tooth extractions or bone grafts to prepare for the placement of one or more implants. These procedures are followed by a recovery period.  

Implant Placement

Once prepared, we place the implant anchors directly in the jawbone with a simple oral surgery.  

Healing and Osseointegration

The placement is followed by a period of healing where the jawbone osseointegrates the dental implant's anchor. Our dentist will provide you with thorough instructions to care for your teeth, gums, and incision site following the implant placement. These instructions will help ensure a speedy recovery while mitigating pain, swelling, and complications.  

Abutment Placement

After healing, we can then place an abutment on the dental implant. This is the piece of the dental implant that attaches the anchor to the dental restoration. Depending on how your gum tissues heal around the dental implant, this procedure might also require a short period of healing.  

Restoration Placement

Once healed, we can permanently place the patient's dental restoration (the only visible portion no fa dental implant) on top of the abutment. Dental implants can support the following restorations:

• Dental crowns that replace teeth on a one-for-one basis.

• Dental bridges that replace one or several consecutive missing teeth.

• Full or partial dentures that replace all or most of a patient's teeth.  

Dental Sedation and Local Anesthetic

All surgical procedures are performed with a local anesthetic that ensures patients experience no pain or discomfort during their procedures. This anesthetic also helps to mitigate pain during recovery.  

Additionally, we typically recommend that dental implant placement, bone grafting, and tooth extraction procedures be performed with sedation dentistry to help patients relax during their treatments. The most commonly used form of sedation for dental implant treatments is oral conscious sedation which achieves a moderate level of sedation with the oral administration of prescription sedatives.  

Procedural Insights: What You Should Know Before Deciding If Restoration With Dental Implants Is Right for You

Are You a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

For some patients, dental implants might not be the best treatment option. This includes cases involving poor oral health, periodontal disease, low bone density, smoking, teeth grinding, certain chronic conditions, and certain medications that can impede healing or osseointegration.  

Length of Treatment Process

The dental implant process is slightly different for every patient, but it is a lengthy treatment process, lasting about three months to more than a year. Patients should consider the length of time that treatment will take to complete and whether or not this is conducive to their lifestyle and treatment goals.  

Dental Implant Benefits and Advantages

Dental implants offer several benefits and advantages. They look, feel, and work just like natural teeth. They are designed to last a lifetime, and they support ongoing jawbone health and the health of neighboring natural teeth.  

Dental Implant Treatment Cost

The cost of implants can vary depending on several factors such as the location of the tooth/teeth, the number of implants needed, the complexity of the case, and any additional procedures that are needed. Additionally, insurance coverage for treatment with dental implants varies.

Our office can provide you with an estimate of dental implant treatment costs and help you navigate your insurance policy to determine whether or not treatment with implants fits your budget.  

The Dental Studio: Focusing on Patient Education

One of the primary goals of Dr. Sabour at The Dental Studio is to empower patients to make well-informed decisions about their dental care through a focus on patient education. Dr. Sabour always provides patients with thorough explanations of recommended treatments and alternative treatment options, including any benefits and drawbacks, in addition to taking the time to answer questions.  

To learn more about dental implants and determine whether they might be the right smile restoration treatment for you, we welcome you to contact our dental office in Flower Mound, Texas to request a consultation with Dr. Sabour today.

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