The Dental Implant Process

It seems like everyday we have more patients raving about their new dental implants. Our patients love the fact that their replacement teeth are comfortable and require no extra maintenance to last them a lifetime. Because dental implants are capable of results this good, we’ve noticed this idea going around that the dental implant process must be very complicated and intense. We at Contemporary Dental Arts are happy to say that this isn’t true and, today, Dr. Keith Cooper is blogging from his San Jose, CA practice to give a general overview of the dental implant process and the steps it entails.

A Natural Approach to Replacement Teeth

The dental implant process is capable of leaving our patients with beautiful replacement teeth that look and feel natural. And, the process isn’t even that complicated. In fact, it can be broken down into three easy steps, which include:

Procedure

During the procedure, Dr. Cooper will make a small incision on your gums, exposing the jawbone. The implant fixture will then be placed in the empty spot left by the missing tooth, and the area will be stitched up so that it can heal. At this point, Dr. Cooper may also attach the abutment and a temporary replacement tooth to your implant fixture, though it is not unusual to wait until after the recovery period before having anything connected to your fixture.

Recovery

The recovery period is the most important part of the implant process as this is when osseointegration occurs. Osseointegration is the process of your implant fixture being accepted by your jawbone and gums as a natural piece of your jaw structure. This is possible because dental implants are made from titanium, a metal the body does not recognize as a foreign material. Each implant fixture is also covered in small holes and ridges, which your jawbone and gums will thread themselves through as they heal, pulling the implant permanently into place. It is this process that allows your dental implants to work and feel just like natural teeth.

Replacement

Once the recovery process is complete, you will return to our practice to have your replacement teeth attached. Your replacement teeth will be custom made for you based on scans we will take of your natural teeth. By doing this, we are able to provide you with replacement crowns that will blend in with your remaining natural teeth, ensuring that no one will even be able to tell the difference between your natural and artificial teeth.

Call and Schedule a Consultation with Dr. Keith Cooper

As you can see from the information above, the dental implant process is actually not all that complicated. And, while the implant process does take longer than other forms of teeth restoration treatment, only dental implants provide beautiful replacement teeth that work and feel just like natural teeth. If you have any additional questions or concerns about the dental implant process that you would like addressed, we encourage you to contact us and schedule a no-obligation consultation with Dr. Keith Cooper today. We look forward to helping you achieve a better, complete smile soon!