What to Expect When Getting Dental Implants

At Garland Davis Family Dentistry, we’ve trained extensively to make the dental implant process as comfortable as possible. Not all dental practitioners have trained themselves and their staff fully on implants, meaning their patients must go to a specialist for part of their treatment before returning to their usual practitioner. Our patients receive their entire dental implant procedure here in our office. Here’s what to expect:

PLACING THE IMPLANT

The first step is anesthetizing the area. For most patients, a local anesthetic is all that’s needed. For patients who might be anxious, we discuss other options to make them more comfortable. Once the area is numb, a small hole is made in the jaw. We carefully check the hole for perfect position and alignment and then enlarge the hole slightly until it reaches 3 to 4 millimeters, the size of the implant. The implant (a small, titanium post) is placed and a small cap goes over the implant to protect it. A few stitches close any incisions.

HEALING TIME

The implant is allowed to heal for three to six months until it is fully ready to absorb the stresses of chewing. Then the patient returns to our office to receive the replacement tooth.

YOUR NEW TOOTH

The protective cap is removed and a base for the replacement tooth is added to the implant. The final step is the placement of the natural looking tooth, securely fastened to its base. Now your dental implant is complete and you are free to bite, chew, talk and smile normally—like you never lost a tooth at all!

If you’re interested in dental implants for missing teeth, call our Laurel Maryland office today for a free consultation with Dr. Davis.