Getting dental implants is a decision that can change your life. With a new smile, you’ll feel more confident and comfortable — you can smile, laugh, eat and talk without feeling like you have to hold back. Your newfound confidence can even lead to more opportunities in your personal life and career.
But before you can reap the benefits of your restored teeth and transformed smile, you’ll need to have your implants fitted. So what should you expect from the dental implant procedure? Here’s everything you need to know.
The Dental Implant Procedure in 5 Steps
Step 1: Initial Consultation
First thing’s first, your dentist will need to check that implants are the right dental solution for you. So you’ll start your dental implant journey with an initial consultation.
During this appointment, your dentist will take a look at your teeth and your overall oral health. They can tell you whether implants are a good option for you, and they’ll talk you through the dental implant process.
At Blue Light Dental, we also offer free e-consultations. So if you want to talk to a dentist and discuss dental implants before booking an appointment, we can provide general implant information over the phone or by email.
Step 2: Creating a Customised Treatment Plan
The dental implant procedure differs from case to case, so after your initial consultation, your dentist will create a customised treatment plan for you. This will outline what you can expect from the procedure, whether you need any tooth extractions or bone grafting, and whether your implant will support one or multiple replacement teeth.
Step 3: Tooth Extraction and/or Bone Grafting
This step of the dental implant procedure isn’t always necessary — it depends on whether you’re getting an implant to replace a missing or damaged tooth, and whether your jawbone is strong enough for the implant.
If your dental implant is going to replace a damaged, rather than a missing tooth, this will need to be extracted before the implant can be fitted.
If your jawbone isn’t strong enough to support a dental implant, you may need a bone graft. This will involve rebuilding your jawbone either with bone from another part of your body or with special bone grafting materials. This step is about preparing your mouth for the dental implant procedure to reduce the risk of dental implant problems and failure.
Step 4: Fitting the Dental Implant
To fit your dental implant, your dentist will make an incision in your gum, and then create a small hole in your jawbone where the implant will be inserted.
The implant will take the place of a natural tooth root, fusing with your bone over time to provide strong and stable support for your replacement tooth. You’ll need to wait a few months (usually two to four months) for the implant to fully fuse with the bone. Then it will be strong enough to support replacement teeth. During this healing period, you could wear temporary false teeth.
Step 5: Attaching Your Replacement Teeth
Once your implant has healed and fused, your dentist will fit your replacement teeth. First, they’ll attach an abutment to your implant. This is a tiny attachment that will connect your new tooth to your implant. Once this is in place, your dentist will fit a crown or bridge onto your implant. A crown replaces an individual missing tooth, whereas a bridge can replace several missing teeth.
Your replacement teeth will have been modelled on the shape and colour of your natural teeth, giving you a flawless and natural-looking new smile.
If you want to transform your smile with dental implants, book your initial consultation with Blue Light Dental. Our friendly and professional dentists will help you achieve the smile of your dreams while making sure you’re completely comfortable throughout the procedure.
