Who is a candidate for dental implant treatment?

Nearly everyone who is missing one or more teeth and in general good health is a candidate for dental implant treatment. Also those who are dissatisfied with their present denture, partial denture, or bridge and would like to eat better and with more comfort smile more frequently and feel more secure when they talk and laugh. There are a few medical conditions that can undermine the success of implant treatment, such as uncontrolled diabetes.   However, there are very few conditions that would keep someone from having implant treatment altogether.  

Quality and quantity of available bone for implant placement is more often a factor in qualifying for dental implants than medical conditions. However, even people who have lost a significant amount of bone can qualify for dental implant treatment with additional procedures to add bone or create new bone. Advances in this type of treatment have made it possible for most people who would not previously have been considered candidates to have successful implant treatment.

 

What type of discomfort can be expected during the procedure?

 

The placement of the root portion of the dental implant takes less than an hour. Most patients are able to return to work and or their home life functioning normally. The discomfort level experienced during the implant procedure is similar to that of a simple root cannel or simple tooth extraction. Local anesthesia (“freezing”) is provided during the procedure. In most cases all that is required to control post procedure discomfort is Advil.

 

 

How long will the entire process take?

 

The entire process typically involves 3-5 trips to the dentist over a 4 to 5 month period. For many cases, the crown portion of the Dental Implant in the form of a “temporary” can be placed the same day. After 4 to 5 months of healing, the temporary crown portion of the Dental Implant will be replaced with a final crown.