Dental Implants: Can One Dental Office Do It All?

When getting implants, you may receive treatments from more than one dental expert. The main procedure to insert the dental implants in the jawbone can be performed by an oral surgeon, periodontist or a general dentist trained in implant placement. Afterward, a prosthodontist or general dentist will design the crown, bridge or dentures to appear like the natural teeth.

Usually, the dental expert who does the implant surgery will collaborate with your prosthodontist or general dentist during treatment. The expert will determine the type of implant, the number of implants and where to position them. In this article, we discussed the procedures and experts involved in dental implant placement.

The stages of the dental implant procedure

Knowing the different stages involved in the treatment and the dental expert who handles each one will give you valuable insight into what to expect when you visit a dental practice.

The first consultation

The first stage of the procedure is to book an appointment with your dentist. During the consultation, he or she will conduct a thorough dental examination, take x-ray scans of your mouth and proceed to make impressions of your teeth.

Afterward, the dentist will discuss a suitable treatment plan with you and enlighten you on the stages of treatment, the treatment timeline and post-recovery measures. You will also know if a bone graft is required or not. During the consultation, you and the dentist can discuss when to begin the treatment.

The treatment procedure

The placement of a dental implant is surgical and not immediate; you should not expect to enter the operating room and exit with a new set of teeth. The surgery demands outpatient care and is in different stages.

If the affected tooth is still in its socket, the dentist will extract the remainder of the tooth. The procedure requires administering anesthesia and is an independent treatment.

Next, if you need a bone graft, the surgeon will remove a small quantity of bone from another of your body (usually from the chin or hip) and fuse it to the jawbone. This procedure is only essential if the jaw does not have enough bone to hold the implant.

After the bone graft, you will take a break for about four to twelve months to give the bone enough time to heal properly.

Implant placement

When the bone has healed properly, next is to get the implant: a metal screw inserted into the jawbone to support the prosthetic tooth. You will be sedated with local anesthesia throughout the one- or two-hour procedure. After this, you will take another break for a few months to heal in a phase called osseointegration. The dental expert may place a temporary crown on the tooth while it heals.

When the bone has fully healed, the surgeon will place an abutment on the implant; the abutment supports the final crown. After this, the dentist will take an impression of the teeth to design the crown. A later date will be fixed for dental crown placement.

So yes, a single dental office can perform the entire process if it has dental experts that are qualified to perform implant surgery, design dental crowns and place the prosthetic tooth.

Request an appointment here: https://www.pleasantdental.net or call Pleasant Dental at (203) 290-3648 for an appointment in our Newtown office.