Understanding the Dental Implant Process

Although dental implants are frequently requested, they are not always the best solution based on the condition of your remaining teeth, your overall health, and your oral health.

To determine if implants are suitable, you must start with a consultation to discuss your options. Dr. Hogan offers the initial consultation free of charge to determine which restoration solution is best for your needs. He will make a recommendation after evaluating your medical history, oral health, and the condition of your gum tissue and jawbone.

The goal of the consultation is to understand your desires and goals, the extent of restoration needed, the state of your oral health, and how the proposed treatment will affect your remaining teeth. With this information, Dr. Hogan can recommend a course of action.

Below are typical things you can expect to happen at your initial consultation:

An examination evaluates your teeth, gums, and jawbone to determine if they can support an implant. There are times when the bones are not strong enough due to bone loss or deterioration. In some cases, pre-surgical bone grafting can prepare the jawbone for an implant. Other times, it will require you to pursue alternative treatments.

Dental X-rays and/or 3D images of your mouth, teeth, and gums help Dr. Hogan evaluate the bone mass to determine if he can safely implant the artificial root into the jawbone.

CBCT scan is necessary in some cases to evaluate the condition of the surrounding tissue.

A review of your medical history . Dr. Hogan must understand your medical and dental history before determining if an implant is the best solution.

Discussion of treatment goals . While you want to replace the missing tooth (teeth), you also have expectations regarding the outcome you want. What are your concerns, long-term goals, and hopes for the procedure you choose? For example, some patients wish to have perfectly straight teeth, while others prefer slight imperfections because they feel it looks more natural.

To prepare for your initial consultation, you should gather relevant information about your medical and oral history and consider questions you want to discuss with Dr. Hogan.

It is common to need pre-surgical treatments before you begin the implant process.

During the initial consultation, Dr. Hogan will evaluate the current state of your oral health and identify any aspects that need to be addressed to ensure a successful implant. The presence of tooth decay, gum disease, or bone loss may require additional treatments before the dental implant procedure begins.

In some cases, the presence of oral health issues will require you to choose an alternative treatment.

Common health issues that require pre-surgical work include:

Bone grafting is frequently needed before an implant because bone loss begins the moment you lose a tooth. When the bone around the missing tooth deteriorates, the jawbone may not be strong or thick enough to support an implant. The goal of grafting is to rebuild and strengthen the bone around the socket, making it strong enough to support and hold the new tooth in place.

When done correctly, the bone graft can stimulate bone growth within the jawbone giving you a firm foundation for the titanium post that must support the new tooth. The bone grafting process can extend the procedure by up to a year because the new bone tissue must fuse with the jawbone to create the conditions necessary for a successful implant.

Other pre-surgical treatments, such as a  tooth extraction or treating an infection, will only add weeks to the procedure. While pre-surgical treatments extend the time to complete the implant process, failing to address existing issues could result in implant failure.

After completing any required pre-surgical work, the dental implant process can begin. The first step of the dental implant process requires a surgical procedure that imbeds a small titanium post into your jawbone. This outpatient treatment only requires a local anesthetic and is often completed in Dr. Hogan’s office.

After insertion of the implant post, you must wait several months for the titanium post to fuse with the jawbone through a process called osseointegration. Once the fusion takes place, the implant post becomes the artificial root that supports the new tooth.

Placing the Abutment

With the post securely in place, you are ready for the next step in the process, which is setting the abutment. This device serves as the connector between the root and tooth. The procedure involves reopening the gums to attach the abutment and requires a healing period of about two weeks before Dr. Hogan can set the crown.

The last step of the implant process is creating a new tooth that will match your natural teeth in both size and color. To ensure the tooth is the exact size required, Dr. Hogan will make an impression of your mouth. He then matches the color to your natural teeth. If you want whiter teeth, it’s essential to whiten them before setting the crown because you cannot whiten artificial teeth.

In most cases, the crown is manufactured in a lab and takes several weeks to create. You can receive a temporary crown in the interim if the new tooth is in a prominent position.

With the abutment in place, Dr. Hogan will cement the crown to the abutment, secured by the titanium post. This series of supports give you a new tooth that looks, acts, and feels like your natural teeth.

When you give your dental implants the proper care , they can remain in place for the remainder of your life. In some cases, you may need a replacement crown, but it is highly unusual to have issues with the titanium post supporting the crown.

Final Thoughts

The process of getting a dental implant is lengthy, but the results are far superior to other alternatives. At the end of the procedure, you will have a new tooth (teeth) that allows you to speak and eat without difficulty. The new root will support your jawbone, protecting against bone loss and gum disease. In most cases, a passerby will not be able to distinguish the implant from your natural teeth.

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