Sometimes a tooth needs to be completely replaced.  Dental implant surgery replaces a tooth with a metal replacement at the root, called a post, and an artificial tooth, the crown, that matches your real teeth.  The implanted tooth can look and function like your other teeth. At Utley Dental, dental implant surgery is an available option to some patients as an alternative to bridgework or dentures.

Dental implant surgery is performed in a series of procedures, allowing time in between for your bone to heal tightly around your implant stem.  How the procedure is performed depends on your situation, jawbone, and type of implant. 

Are you a dental implant candidate? 

You might be a candidate for dental implant surgery if you have one or more than one missing teeth and your jawbone has reached its mature size.  It is necessary to have healthy bone to be able to secure the implant properly and that you don’t have any other underlying health conditions that will prevent the bone from healing.  

Sometimes there is a choice between dentures and implant surgery.  While implant surgery takes longer initially, it is a more permanent option and provides some advantages like improved speech and durability.

Types of Implants

Because there are many different situations, there are also many different types of implants to address the situation.  You may have one of the following types of implants.

• All-on-4
• Abutment & Replacement implants
• Implant Supported Bridges
• Implant Supported Crowns

Utley Dental will recommend the implant option most suited to your situation.  

Preparing for Surgery

Prior to having dental implant surgery, you must have a thorough evaluation from the dentist to make sure you are a good candidate.  This evaluation includes:

• A comprehensive dental exam with x-rays, 3D images and models of your teeth and jaw.
• A review of your medical health history to make sure there aren’t any contraindications to surgery.  This includes disease states, medications, and supplements.
• A personalized treatment plan for your situation.

The dentist will make sure you are prepared for the surgery and will talk to you about eating and drinking before and after the surgery and about what type of anesthesia you will have for the procedure.

Stages of Completion

Dental implant surgery is performed in a series of stages, to allow the underlying bone to stabilize and heal.  There are multiple steps to completing an implant including removing the damaged tooth, placing the post into the bone, allowing the bone to heal around the post, and then placing the abutment and artificial tooth on the post.  

This process can take several months and needs to be adjusted for your circumstances.  It may take several months to complete this procedure. There are both removable and fixed artificial teeth that can be attached to the implant post.

After Surgery

There may be some temporary discomfort due to the implant surgery, which is common.  You may experience some swelling of your gums or face, bruising, pain at the implant site, or minor bleeding.  You may need to eat soft foods after surgery and expect to have some discomfort until the stitches dissolve.

If these problems worsen over time, though, it is important to come back to be seen by Utley Dental. If dental implants are indicated, Dr. Utley will be happy to discuss this procedure to see if it is right for you.