According to the American Dental Association, more than five million dental implants are placed every year in just the United States alone. If you are looking into getting dental implants to restore your smile, you are bound to want to know a bit about the process before you mentally commit to speaking to a cosmetic dentist. Here is a look at the general process of restoring a smile with dental implants.

Initial Consultation with the Dentist

When you first reach out to the dentist about smile restoration, you will likely be scheduled for a consultation. The initial consultation gives the dentist an opportunity to look at your oral health, your remaining teeth, and your bone structure to determine if dental implants could be a viable option. During this consultation, the dentist will also look at things like your medical history and current health conditions that could interfere with the procedure. You may also get to see a digital rendering of what changes could potentially be made to your smile with implant placement.

Extractions/Preparations

If you are getting implants to replace teeth that you already have that are in need of extraction, those bad teeth will naturally have to be removed first. If you are not in need of extractions, the dentist will move onto the next step in the process, which involves thoroughly examining the bone structures in your jaws, determining the best implant options, and determining what crowns will be used.

Implant Placement

The implant placement procedure may be done either in the office or in another medical facility while you are under general anesthesia. The dentist will make an incision and place the implant into the jawline, install sutures so the gum tissue properly heals around the new abutment, and may add a temporary crown.

Recovery

The recovery process after a dental implant procedure can take a period of several weeks. The implant will fuse to the jaw bone much like a natural tooth. At this point, the permanent crown will be placed and bonded to the existing implant.

Contact a Cosmetic Dentist in Bellbrook About Dental Implants 

While getting a dental implant can seem like an intimidating process and having one restored can be scary, your chosen dentist will guide you throughout every step so you feel comfortable and confident. If you would like to schedule a consultation to talk about dental implants, reach out to us at Bellbrook Family Dentistry in Ohio.