Achieve a Perfect Smile with New Dental Implants

There are six basic steps in the dental implant process:

1. Consultation: Dr. Vardeman will conduct a thorough examination of your teeth to determine whether or not dental implants are the best solution for you. 
2. Pre-surgery procedures: In some cases, patients may not have enough jawbone to support an implant. When this happens, a bone graft will need to be placed and allowed to heal. Also, sometimes there are teeth that need to be extracted. 
3. Titanium screw placement: During your procedure, Dr. Vardeman will place a titanium post directly into your jawbone. This screw will act as the “root” for your new tooth. 
4. Healing and fusion: After the screw placement, the healing process begins, which can take up to six months. During this time, the screw will fuse with the jawbone in a process called osseointegration. 
5. Abutment placement: A small metal connector will be attached to the screw. This abutment will protrude through your gum line, and it will connect the porcelain crown to the screw. 
6. Crown placement: Your new implant will be topped off with a custom-designed porcelain crown. The crown is the part of the tooth that shows above the gum line. 

For your screw placement procedure, your dentist will use anesthesia so you’re comfortable and relaxed. Right after the procedure, you won’t feel pain because the area where your implant was placed will still be numb. Moderate discomfort, swelling, and inflammation are common for two to three days following the procedure.