The oral surgeons at Siouxland Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery have years of experience creating dental implant treatment plans for patients in Sioux Falls, SD, Mitchell, SD, Yankton, SD, and Brookings, SD. The exact procedure or procedures necessary to receive dental implants will depend on the extent of the tooth loss, your overall health, and the health of the rest of your mouth, among other factors. In general, most dental implant placements require multiple office visits to plan your treatment, place the dental implants, and finalize the permanent prosthetic crowns.
Consultation and Oral Exam
Your first appointment will consist of a thorough oral examination and consultation appointment. Your oral surgeon will take any necessary scans to form your treatment plan and determine the best course of action for your dental implant procedure. During this appointment, you will be able to ask your doctor any questions you have and discuss your overall treatment plan.
Dental Implant Surgical Procedure
The surgical procedure is the next step in the dental implant placement process. In most cases, your surgery will be performed under IV anesthesia so that you will feel no pain during your procedure. After your agreed-upon anesthetic option is administered, your oral surgeon will place the dental implant screw into the empty tooth socket using advanced, custom-made surgical guides to ensure a proper fit. After the placement of the dental implant screw, your implant sites will have to heal before the tooth crowns are attached to the top, but many patients choose to use temporary crowns during the healing phase while they wait for their new permanent teeth. A soft foods diet is usually necessary until the dental implant sites are strong enough to withstand normal chewing forces.
Crown or Prosthetic Attachment
After the healing phase is complete, your oral surgeon will attach connecting abutments to your dental implants (if they were not attached already during your initial procedure). Then, your dentist will be able to attach your crown, bridge, or other permanent tooth attachment. The entire dental implant process is a joint effort between you, your oral surgeon, and your dentist.
After Implant Placement
Dental implants have a success rate of over 90%, but proper post-surgical care is important to preserve your implants for a lifetime. Excess forces on a dental implant that has not fully healed can cause complications, so a temporary soft foods diet is often necessary. You will have a chance to discuss your post-surgical instructions in full during your pre-surgery appointment. Once the healing phase ends, your dental implants will be just as strong as, if not stronger than, your natural teeth.
Temporary prostheses are a great option for people who don’t want to go without teeth during the healing period. Patients who already have a removable prosthesis or dentures can sometimes have their current prosthesis modified to fit over the dental implant sites. In other cases, the dental implant can be placed with the connecting abutment already inserted, making it possible to attach your permanent crown within 24 hours of your initial surgery. Your oral surgeon will help you determine the best treatment plan for your specific condition.