More and more patients love the idea of dental implants—replacement teeth that end up looking and feeling like natural teeth! Dental implants are a healthful, long-term solution to missing teeth, and our Saint Louis dental implant dentists are proud to offer this treatment to our patients. Today we’re giving you more information about the how dental implants are placed. Read on to learn the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about dental implant treatment…
Q: How long does dental implant treatment take?
A: The treatment process for full-sized dental implant is multi-phased, and progresses over a few months. It starts with the implantation of your dental implant root—the titanium screw that will anchor your restoration. After the root is implanted, we will leave it alone your bone and gum tissue to heal—during this time the titanium implant root actually bonds with the natural bone. This process takes a couple of months. Then the implant root is capped with a dental restoration, at which point your dental implant is complete.
Q: Does dental implant treatment hurt?
A: We use sedation dentistry to keep our patients comfortable and pain-free during dental implant treatment. With sedation dentistry, you’ll drift peacefully through treatment without having to endure pain or distressing sounds or images.
Q: Can everyone get dental implants?
A: Dental implants are suitable for most patients, though some patients may need additional preliminary treatments before undergoing implant placement. The most common example is a patient who does not have sufficient jaw bone density to support an implant—this patient will need bone grafts before receiving his or her dental implant.
If you have more questions about dental implants, our Saint Louis dental implant dentists are here for you. Give us call to schedule your consultation and get started on the way to a healthier smile!