Implant treatment can be broken down into four phases:
- treatment planning
- implant placement
- crown placement
- hygiene maintenance
Your doctor will take digital images and create a model of your existing teeth to determine how the implant should be placed. Occasionally, a bone graft will be needed to provide an adequate site for placement.
The implant is placed in the bone and given a period of time to heal (osseointegrate) before attachment of the crown. In some cases, you may receive a temporary crown the same day. The final crown is usually placed 3-6 months after implant placement.
Maintaining your oral hygiene is the most important role you will play in the long-term success of your implant. Your doctor will give you specific instructions for brushing and flossing the area and see you at regular intervals. Given proper care, dental implants can last a lifetime. In the rare instances that implants do not function properly, your doctor can usually perform a procedure to correct the problem.
One tooth, several teeth or the entire mouth.
- Replacing a single tooth
- Replacing several teeth or a bridge
