What to Expect
Oral surgery sounds intimidating and stressful; however, it’s pretty easy. At White Oak Dental Associates, we want our patients to feel comfortable and relaxed when they come to us for dental implant treatment. For this reason, we’ve created this page to help you understand that the surgery will be as quick, painless, and comfortable as possible. Continue reading to learn some of the necessary details about the dental implant procedure so that you can make an informed decision for your smile.
Step One: Your Consultation
If you currently suffer from tooth loss, you might already notice some of the adverse effects that we associate with the condition, such as your natural teeth shifting out of place or your jawbone depleting. At White Oak Dental Associates, we want you to love your smile, so if you believe you’re a candidate for the gold standard of tooth-replacement options, we can help.
The first step toward your new smile is a consultation with Dr. Owoc. During this time, he’ll complete a comprehensive examination of your mouth, teeth, and jaw as well as evaluate your medical and dental history. He’ll also collect x-ray images and scans of your jawbone to determine whether you need supplemental treatments or not.
In some situations, we’ll need to perform supplemental treatments to prepare your mouth for implants. Your jawbone needs to be healthy and dense to support a dental implant, and if you’ve been missing teeth for a long time, chances are your jaw isn’t in pristine shape. Fortunately, Dr. Owoc is an expert in bone graft procedures. He’ll take a small piece of your bone and apply it to the weak area of your jaw, and once that heals, you can start your implant procedure.
Step Two: Implant Placement
After Dr. Owoc clears you for treatment, he can place the implant fixture in your jawbone. This procedure is minimally-invasive and typically only requires a local anesthetic, although additional sedation options are available on a case-by-case basis.
Once you’re comfortable, Dr. Owoc will make a small incision in your gum tissue and the implant fixture, which acts as the root of your natural teeth, will be attached to your jawbone. The fixture is crafted from a high-grade, biocompatible titanium alloy, ensuring that your body will accept it. After we place it, we’ll use a temporary crown to protect the implant while you heal and we manufacture your permanent restoration.
Step Three: Your Permanent Restoration
After a brief adjustment period, you’ll return to our office for your final appointment. Dr. Owoc will remove the temporary crown and replace it with the permanent version.
At White Oak Dental Associates, we craft our crowns from porcelain, a durable tooth-colored material that can withstand the bite forces and pressures that your jaw exerts. The crown will match the color, shape, size, and texture of your natural teeth. Moreover, they’re the only portion of the implant that anyone will see.
How Long Does the Dental Implant Process Take?
The answer to this question depends on your oral health. If your jawbone or gum tissue needs repairing, Dr. Owoc might recommend supplemental procedures to ensure the best possible chance of implant success. While they’re necessary, additional treatments can add up to six months to the total healing time.
Without supplemental procedures, we can typically place dental implants in three to five weeks. The first appointment and initial healing will take about a week. Then, our local dental laboratory takes two weeks to manufacture the permanent crown. After that, crown placement and the final healing process can take about a week to complete.
Dental Implant Process FAQs
Can any dental provider place my dental implants?
You will find that many professionals say that they can place dental implants. However, patients should always research their provider before choosing to use them for dental implant placement.
The reason for this is that only a qualified and experienced dental implant provider can ensure that your dental implants are properly placed and that they last for many decades.
How long will the dental implants procedure take?
Dental implant placement usually takes approximately three to six months. However, complete treatment times typically vary from patient to patient depending on dental health, overall patient health, and if supplemental procedures are needed.
How can I keep my dental implants clean and healthy?
One of the best parts about dental implants is that they require very little extra care or maintenance besides normal brushing and flossing.
Additionally, your new dental implants can be examined and cleaned while you are seeing your dentist for regular examinations and cleanings.
Get Started with a Consultation at White Oak Dental Associates Today
If you’re missing teeth and live near White Oak, PA, we can’t wait to help you restore your smile with functional and natural-looking dental implants. Learn more about what makes a great dental implant candidate, read some FAQs, and when you’re ready, give us a call. We’re excited to assist you on your dental implant journey.