Dental Implants

Damaged or missing teeth can affect your self-confidence just as much as your overall dental health. The goal of dental implants is to match your natural teeth as closely as possible. Implants are fused to the jawbone which means not only do they closely match the appearance of natural teeth, they also closely mirror their function.

Covington Dental Studio is proud to offer affordable dental implants to patients near Covington, Alcovy, Social Circle and Oxford. If you think dental implants may be a good solution for you, our dental team is here to help make it happen!

The Dental Implant Process

If dental implants are the right option for your restorative dental needs, the process will be relatively involved. Don’t let the procedure drive you away from getting dental implants though; patients agree that the benefits are well worth it! This is a top rated, permanent solution to missing teeth. You should plan to visit our office up to three times or more to complete your dental implant process and the entire treatment timeline can take months. Here’s what to expect:

Before the Procedure

Before receiving your implant, you’ll start with digital dental X-rays and a general oral evaluation. Then, your dentist will examine your jaw bone and take impressions of your natural teeth to efficiently match shape and color. Your dentist and possibly a periodontist will check your gums to ensure your gums are healthy enough to withstand dental implants. Dental implants can correct for a single missing tooth or multiple teeth.

You’ll also want to discuss any current medications with your doctor as anesthetics will be applied for this treatment. If you need teeth removed or a bone graft before your implants, that may happen during your first appointment as well. We’ll develop a personalized treatment plan based on your needs once everything has been evaluated. The dental implantation will happen after your mouth has healed from the tooth removal and/or bone graft.

During the Dental Implant Procedure

Your implants will either be placed directly into your jawbone or inserted below your gum line. Either way, your oral surgeon will start by surgically creating holes for the metal posts that will hold your implant. After the posts are placed into the holes, you’ll wait a couple of months for this to heal completely. The longest timeline is the healing process, and every patient heals differently. You will be given a temporary tooth to wear in the meantime.

Next, the abutment that will hold the crowns, or what many patients recognize as the new teeth, will be placed into the metal posts. When this heals after a couple of weeks, it’s time for the dental implants themselves. Your implant will either be fixed or removable. Fixed implants will be screwed or cemented to your teeth, while removable implants act similarly to dentures. Fixed implants are much more common with patients.

After the Procedure

Experiencing some bruising, swelling, light bleeding and pain after your implant procedure is to be expected. If the pain is severe, you may be given medication to help. Be sure to stay in contact with your dentist and surgeon so they can monitor your healing progression. Take it slowly at first. After a few weeks, your dental implants should allow you to continue eating, drinking and cleaning your mouth as usual! The new implants will look and function like your surrounding teeth.