Dental Implant Surgery

Overview Dental Implant Procedure

Because each patient at Smileboston has an individualized treatment plan, the number of appointments and the time required to complete implant treatment will vary.

Prior to implant surgery, you may receive antibiotics and for greater comfort, intravenous sedation or nitrous oxide. A local anesthetic will be administered in order to numb the area where the dental implant will be placed.

Once comfortable, Dr. Spitz will make a small incision in the gum tissue to reveal the bone. He then creates space using special instruments and gently inserts the titanium implant. The top of this implant is often visible through the gum. Sometimes, during the early stages of healing, it is better to have the implant covered by the gum tissue. Again, this will vary by patient and is dependent upon your treatment plan.

Healing After Implant Placement

Once the implant is placed, healing begins. The length of time it takes to heal varies from person to person and depends upon the quality and quantity of bone. After the initial phase of healing, Dr. Spitz will place an abutment (support post) onto the implant. This allows the gum tissue to mature and provides access to the implant. Please know that Dr. Spitz and the Smileboston team will advise you on follow-up care and timing.

Sometimes impressions are made at the time the implant is placed. This enables the crown to be ready when the implants have healed. Follow-up care (a few office visits) is usually needed to ensure that your mouth is healing well and to determine when you are ready for the restorative phase of your treatment.

Whether it’s one tooth or multiple teeth that are being replaced, all restorations will be completed by precisely fitting the replacement tooth (crown) to the dental implant.

When are implants placed?

Dental implants are often placed several months after the extraction of a tooth. If a tooth has been missing for some time, it is likely that the adjacent supportive bone has grown thinner and shrunk. This occurs because the root of the natural tooth has to be present to stimulate the bone. In fact, as much as one-third of your jaw’s thickness can be lost in the year following tooth extraction. If enough bone is missing, additional bone grafted into the area may be necessary. This ensures the implant will be adequately supported when it is placed in the jaw.

Please call Smileboston at Smileboston Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry office Phone Number 617-277-4100 with any questions regarding dental implants or to schedule a consultation.