First, you’ll need to choose a dental practice you can trust to perform your dental implant procedure. Schedule an appointment with your chosen dentist to discuss your options and have x-rays taken of your mouth and jaw.
These x-rays will give your dentist insight into your jaw and gum health. If your mouth and jaw tissues are healthy, you’re likely a good candidate for dental implants. Talk with your doctor to learn more about the health of your gums and mouth.
After x-rays, your dentist will take a dental impression.
A dental impression is a negative mold of your teeth that your dentist gets by having you bite down on a tray full of a semi-liquid substance that hardens to a mold.
This mold will help your dentist create a customized dental implant for your particular mouth and tooth size.
Once your impressions are finished, you may need to have a tooth extracted.
Your dentist will let you know how long to wait between the extraction and the implant process. Once you’ve healed from the extraction, you can move on to the process of getting your dental implant.
Talk with your dentist about pain levels, what to expect during the procedure and how to care for your dental implant and gums afterward.
Once your implant has healed, your dentist will have you come back in to have an abutment placed.
After the abutment is placed, you’re ready to have your permanent crown put on–and your smile restored!