We understand that missing or damaged teeth can be painful and embarrassing. We here at Precision Dentistry and Implants hate hearing about patients that feel this way, which is why we want to make it as easy as possible to go about restoring missing teeth. Dr. Matthew Huff works to ensure that the dental implant process remains as easy as possible for his Hill Country, TX area patients. In the pursuit of this, he has been able to reduce the implant process down to five easy steps. We encourage you to read on to learn more about the steps that make up the dental implant process and what each step entails.
1. Consultation with Dr. Huff
Before you can have your dental implants placed, you must first attend a consultation with your potential implant provider. At our Kerrville and Fredericksburg offices, your consultation will be with Dr. Matthew Huff. During this consultation, Dr. Huff will examine the flaws in your smile, as well as your overall oral health in order to determine your candidacy and whether dental implants are the best possible restoration treatment for your needs. At this point, he may recommend a supplemental procedure if your oral health is not yet ready to have dental implants placed. You can also take this time to have any remaining questions or concerns addressed.
2. Application of Supplemental Procedures
Some patients do not have the jawbone or gum density needed for the fusion of jawbone and implant fixture to succeed. For these patients, we can restore these structures using supplemental procedures. The most common supplemental procedures we perform for dental implant patients are bone grafting and soft tissue augmentation, both of which work to restore the structures that are necessary for supporting your restoration. While these procedures can usually be provided directly before your implant is placed, patients with more severe cases will need them completed months in advance so that they can heal before the next step.
3. Placement of the Implant Fixture
Once your oral health is ready, you will be able to have your dental implant placed. During this procedure, an implant fixture will be placed in the empty spot in your jawbone that was left behind by your missing tooth. With the fixture in place, we will make sure that it is in its proper position before stitching up the area for healing. At this point, an abutment and temporary replacement tooth may be attached to the fixture, though it is not unusual to wait until after the recovery period before either of these pieces are placed.
4. Recovery and Osseointegration
With your implant properly placed, your mouth will need about three to six months to heal before you can move to the next step of the implant process. The reason why so much time is required is because it is during this time of recovery that the process of osseointegration occurs. Osseointegration is a natural biological process that occurs in your jawbone. By taking advantage of this process, your implant fixture is able to fuse to your jawbone, which gives your body the ability to use it just like it would a natural tooth root. It is for this reason that dental implants feel just like natural teeth.
5. Connecting the Restoration
Once your implant fixture has healed, you will be able to return to our office to have your restoration placed. This restoration can take the form of a dental crown, a dental bridge, or an overdenture. Regardless of your chosen restoration, rest assured that no one will be able to tell it apart from your natural teeth because it will be custom made for you based on scans taken of your real teeth. Using these scans, we will be able to match your replacement teeth to your natural teeth down to their color, shape, and texture.
Begin the Dental Implant Process Today
Are you currently suffering from missing teeth and would like to learn more about treatment for those teeth using dental implants? Then we encourage you to contact our Kerrville or Fredericksburg office and schedule a no-obligation consultation with Dr. Matthew Huff today. We look forward to working with you soon!