Are you ready to embark on a journey of a dental implant? Stats show that nowadays over half a million implants are placed on Americans every year and 13% of Americans in 2020 already have dental implants already! Whether you have been living with a missing tooth for a while, lost a tooth due to an accident or infection or fracture, there’s a really good chance that you are wondering about the dental implant procedure steps. As in how does this work? What comes first? How long before I get my tooth? And how many visits will it take? These are just a few of the many questions we hear often during our implant consultations. So we are here to set the timeline straight!

First and foremost get to a trusted provider that has experience in the field of implants. It could be all in house or referrals where appropriate. Sometimes it is best to hear who the best person is for the job.

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Step 1: Implant Placement

Dental Implant Procedure Steps and What to Expect

At this point your tooth has been removed and you are ready to get it replaced. The first step is the placement of the implant. Think of it as the root of a tooth.

A qualified dentist or oral surgeon will surgically place an implant by embedding into the upper or lower jaw bone. There are many nerves and their nerve branches in the mouth and with 3D imaging and planning and the expertise of the dentist will be sure the implant goes in safely without disturbing those nerves.

Once the implant is placed, a protective cap called a “healing cap” is placed over it to protect the implant and keep the form of the gum for the next phase of treatment.

Bone grafting may be required before or during implant in some instances. If needed the surgical dentist will discuss ahead of time during the planning consultation.

Step 2: Healing and Osseointegration

Once an implant is places it is time to let your body do some healing. This is the most crucial step in implants. The implant and your jaw bone will have to become one and integrate. This takes some time but is what makes a dental implant so strong and why implants are highly recommended as the best long term tooth replacement option. This step is known as osseointegration

Osseointegration locks the implant in place and allows bone to grow around the implant to reinforce it, just like your natural teeth. This process can take few months. Four to six to be more exact. Once it’s healed and osseointegration can be confirmed, it’s time to move on to step 3.

Step 3: Tooth Replacement

This is the step you’ve been waiting for! The dentist will create a custom crown for you that will look, feel, and act as your new tooth. If you are replacing more than one tooth then a bridge or a denture may be needed instead of a crown.

With the help of your dentist’s dental lab and the dentist’s skills, you will leave the office with your new tooth. It will be your best-kept secret that you had a missing tooth in the first place!