Your Guide to Dental Implants: Understanding the Process

If you’re missing a tooth, the question isn’t whether you should replace it, but how. For the sake of your oral health and the continued strength of your jawbone, you need to fill that spot.

The gold standard of tooth replacement is a dental implant — dentists install more than 3 million in the United States each year. An implant restores your smile, keeping your other teeth straight and your jawbone healthy. 

A dental implant is a permanent solution to a temporary problem; you shouldn’t have to worry about that tooth again.

The implant consists of a titanium screw that serves as the replacement for your tooth root, with a crown attached on top.

At Smile Design Manhattan in New York City, dental implants are a specialty. Here’s what you need to know about the process.

Getting started

The dental implant process begins with a consultation to ensure you’re a good candidate. We perform an exam, get your medical history, and possibly take X-rays to ensure we have the whole picture.

If your tooth is missing, we can schedule your appointment for the implant surgery. If your tooth is damaged, we must do an extraction first; afterward, your mouth needs time to heal before we can place the implant.

The dental implant process

Implant surgery is an outpatient procedure conducted under anesthesia. We install a titanium post in your jawbone, after which a friend or family member can take you home. You may have some swelling and bruising, but over-the-counter pain relievers usually work fine.

After this surgery, the implant and your jawbone must fuse (osseointegration) to create a strong foundation for your tooth. That takes 6-12 weeks, perhaps longer. Depending on your situation, we may give you a temporary tooth to wear during this time.

Once the implant is secure in your jawbone, we attach an abutment, or connector, to the implant. We then affix a new, custom crown to the connector; the crown should look and feel just like your natural teeth so no one can tell the difference. 

After the implant

Once you have your crown, treat your new tooth just like your natural teeth. Brush twice a day, floss once a day, and visit your dentist twice a year for a professional exam and cleaning. Your dental implant should last many years, if not the rest of your life.

If you’re missing a tooth, a dental implant is likely the best solution. To schedule a consultation with Smile Design Manhattan, call our Midtown office today or use our online booking tool.