Many patients wonder about the steps required to successfully place an implant and ultimately receive a tooth or other restoration. The basic steps in the implant process are:
- Diagnostic steps – Before we can even order the correct implant, we need to make sure that the procedure is appropriate for you. All case planning is done during this step to minimize unforeseen circumstances during later steps.
- Implant placement – This is when the actual implant is placed into the bone.
- Sedation – Most patient prefer some form of sedation whenever an invasive procedure is performed. Sedation is appropriate for implant placement, and less often for implant uncovery appointments.
- Implant uncovery – After a period of bone healing, usually 3-6 months, the implant may need to be found under the gums. This step may not be needed in certain cases.
- Final impressions – After all healing is completed, usually 1 month after implant uncovery, or 3-6 months, final impressions are taken to fabricate the final prosthetics.
- Delivery of prosthetics – The final step is to deliver the final prosthetics. It takes approximately 3-4 weeks to receive the final prosthetics from the lab. For more complicated restorations, it will take even longer.
- Maintenance – It would be a shame to go through all the work of replacing your missing teeth and not invest in proper maintenance, which is the only way to maximize the longevity of your implant and final restorations.
Call us today to schedule your free evaluation, at (331) 301-4450. Please mention that you are calling regarding the Modern Implant Institute. You can also fill out our convenient contact form, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.