So, you need to improve your smile, but you are worried about the dental implant process. What should you expect with the process? How long does the procedure take? If you are considering getting dental implants, it can be extremely helpful to be somewhat familiar with the process before you move forward. With that being said, continue reading to get a brief insight into the process from start to finish.

The Consultation

At your very first consultation with the dentist, you will let the staff know what you are hoping to achieve from receiving dental implants. In addition, you will undergo a comprehensive oral exam and possibly a CT scan of the mouth. During this consultation, you will find out whether you are a good candidate for the dental implant surgery. If you are, then things will move forward.

Oral Impressions

If you are indeed deemed a good candidate for the procedure, you will need to have impressions made of your mouth. Depending on your individual situation, you may need to have impressions made of either both your upper and lower mouth or just one or the other. Impressions may take roughly an hour. The impressions are used to make your temporary teeth. If only a few of your teeth are being replaced, the dentist may not opt to have impressions made.

Extraction and Dental Implant Placement

If teeth need to be removed, extractions will be taken care of now, and as many of the implants will be placed as possible. In addition, you will receive your temporary appliance at this time. In many cases, extractions and the placement of the dental implant can occur the same day. However, depending on the situation, these two things may need to occur in two separate visits to the office. Generally, it will depend on the amount of jawbone that is present, in addition to various other health-related factors.

Healing and Post-Surgery Checkups

After the surgical procedure, you will need to return for post-op checkups. This is to ensure that you are healing properly. In many cases, these visits only take a few short minutes. Adjustments to the implant may need to occur as well as impressions, depending on the situation. Generally, it takes several months to heal following the surgery, and you will be eating soft food for a couple of weeks after the surgery before you can be back on solid foods. During your post-op checkups, you will likely undergo CT scans to see how the bone is healing.

For more information on the dental implant process, contact a dentist in your area.