Step By Step Guide to Dental Implants

Age and a lack of access to care can take their toll on our teeth, and the time may come when more conservative approaches to dental care — such as crowns and dental bridges — simply aren’t enough. If you’re considering dental implants from Smile On Dental Salon, we’d like to take you behind the scenes to the process and the new smile that goes with them.

Are you a Good Candidate?

There are individuals for whom dental implants are ill-advised. If you have diabetes or any other disease that interferes with your body’s natural ability to heal itself, you are not a good candidate for dental implants. The same is true of women in the early stages of pregnancy, those with neuromuscular conditions that may make aftercare difficult, and individuals with certain cancers, bone, or blood disorders. Your first step in determining whether you are a good candidate for dental implants is a visit to Smile On Dental Salon for an evaluation. We will evaluate your overall health as well as your oral health. Your gums and bones must be in good health for this to work, so other periodontal treatment may be necessary to clear the way for dental implants. We will also discuss a treatment plan, and take dental impressions.

Dental Implant Procedure

The implant procedure takes place once we’re satisfied that the conditions are right. Anesthesia will be administered. Next, the oral surgeon will make incisions in your gums, drill holes to accommodate the post(s) for the implants, install the posts, and close the incisions. You will have a follow-up visit once the incisions have healed for the installation of the appropriate dental crowns, or may be fitted for a customized combination of dentures and implants.

Dental Implant Aftercare

Dental implants can last for decades, but there’s a catch: you will need to be diligent in their care and maintenance — in some respects, even more than you are with your natural teeth. You will receive detailed care instructions from your dentist. Follow them to the letter. The same toothbrush and toothpaste you’ve used for years won’t be the right tools for the job with implants (they can damage the implants), so it’s a good idea to ask for these care instructions in advance so that you can gather any supplies you need and get answers to any questions you may have before your surgery even takes place.

Schedule an Appointment

As we alluded to earlier, not everyone will be an ideal candidate for dental implants. But for many people, having dental implants is an experience that is nothing short of life-changing. If you’re wondering whether dental implants are your best option, wonder no longer — schedule a dental implant consultation with Smile On Dental Salon & Sleep Apnea Center in Lakeview or Deerfield today.