Dental Implant Procedure

Dr Clark dental appointment

Once you have discovered that you have a dead tooth, there a few options as to what you can do next. First is determining if the tooth is worth saving and if a root canal would be beneficial. If this is not an option, then extracting your tooth is the most common next step. You don’t want to continue having a dead tooth in your mouth. Pieces can break off, infection can occur and esthetically it’s not the most pleasing to have a broken dead tooth in your mouth. Extracting the dead tooth will help rid you of all those problems that can occur. After the tooth is extracted, an implant is a very common procedure to use as a replacement for the dead tooth. Often, an “alveolar bone graft” (cadaver or animal bone) is placed to achieve a solid base of bone for the implant. This site will be allowed to heal for two to six months.

Once your tooth is extracted and a graft is placed, your dentist will have a consultation appointment with you to examine the area. Impressions and x-rays will be taken to view the quality and quantity of your jawbone and to assess if more bone is needed at the site.

When that stage is complete, and your bone is healed, the day of surgery is scheduled. Your doctor will most likely start with a prophylaxis and rinse to make sure that the area is clean and sterile. If needed, local anesthetic will be given to help with any discomfort. Your dentist, using a special drill and tools, then places the Implant (screw) into your bone. A healing cap is then placed over the implant, your gums are stitched up over the cap and this healing stage begins. During this time the implant is integrating with the bone. The length of healing depends on the quality of the bone. This healing stage usually takes between 4-6 months.

The next stage is to uncover the implant and test the bone strength to make sure that the implant has successfully integrated into the surrounding bone. A check for infections is done to make sure that the tissue is healthy as well. If all is well, a prosthetic component (abutment) is attached to the implant post. Impressions are then taken to send to the lab, so a permanent crown can be fabricated.

Your final appointment will be placement of the permanent crown onto the abutment! This is done by either cementing or screwing the crown onto the abutment.

With Implants having a success rate as high as 90-95%, this is a very good choice for replacing missing teeth.

Testimonials

The Doc and office staff are excellent at their job and very friendly to boot!

– Mike Roseville, CA