Dental implants require multiple appointments and surgeries, here’s generally what you expect during a typical dental implant process:

• Initial Consultation: First, you’ll visit our office to meet with your Clearwater dentist for a consultation. After a comprehensive exam of your mouth, along with x-rays, your doctor can assess your oral health needs and jawbone density to determine if you’re a good candidate for implants. Your dentist will discuss their findings with you, and together, you’ll decide if dental implants are the best choice to restore your grin or if your smile needs another restorative option.
  
  
• Oral Surgery: When your treatment is approved, you and your dentist will schedule an oral surgery appointment and provide you with a detailed treatment plan. To begin the procedure, your dentist will create a small incision in the gum line and place a dental implant into your jawbone. The implant is a screw-shaped titanium post that bonds directly with your natural bone. Your dentist will then clean, disinfect, and close the incision so the healing process can begin.
  
  
• Healing and Osseointegration: After the implants have been placed, your gums will begin the healing process immediately. It takes most patients less than two weeks to heal completely from the initial surgery. However, it takes 3-6 months for the implant to permanently bond with the jawbone, in a process known as “osseointegration.”
  
  
• Creating the Dental Restoration: You’ll visit our Clearwater office several times throughout the healing process to ensure the implant is bonding successfully with your jaw. During the examination, your dentist will take impressions of your bite, which will be sent to our trusted dental lab, where they will craft the custom dental prosthetic that will be affixed to your dental implant.
  
  
• Applying the Final Restoration: Once we have received your completed dental prosthetic and your implant has finished bonding with your jaw, you’ll return for your final visit. During this visit, your dentist will finish the procedure by attaching the restoration to your dental implant and permanently securing it with dental cement or another adhesive.
  
  
• Maintenance and Aftercare: One of the main advantages of dental implants is that they don’t require any special care outside of good oral hygiene practices. Be sure to brush at least twice a day, floss daily, and schedule visits to your dentist every six months for routine cleanings and exams. Your dental implant can last a lifetime with proper oral health habits.