If you are missing one or multiple teeth, you are a candidate for a dental implant. There are other options to replace a missing tooth, wearing a partial or complete denture with a tooth (teeth) on it or getting a dental bridge, which requires the cutting into and damaging of neighboring teeth in order to build a replacement tooth.

However, those are more short-term solutions that may also cause more negative consequences, like increased tooth decay, compared to dental implants. Dental implants, by contrast, are the most long-term solution that won’t damage adjacent teeth and help patients feel like they never lost any teeth.

Typically, the dental implant process has a few steps. These steps begin with your regular dentist and end with a periodontist. Periodontists are only needed to do the surgical element, while the dentist takes care of the restoration.

1. A Consultation: Everyone is different, so it’s important there’s a one-on-one consultation with your regular dentist to make sure the best periodontal plan and procedures are selected. If it’s determined that a dental implant is the best choice for you, the next appointments will be set up.
2. The Surgical Appointment: Preparing the Implant Site: At the initial surgical appointment, the implant site will be prepared to receive the implant. The titanium screw will be placed in the surgical site. Gum tissue will be sutured over the implant. After this, the implant will need 3 – 5 months to heal because the bone needs to fully fuse and integrate with the implant. People heal and progress at different rates, so the exact amount of time will vary a bit person to person within that 3 – 5 month time frame.
3. Getting a Temporary Crown & Tooth Impression: The next appointment will be with Dr. Khansari. After the bone has been fused, the implant is uncovered. The replacement tooth is anchored to the appropriate attached post. An impression of this post is taken and sent to the lab for an implant crown to be created; this crown will be the final part that looks and feels like a real, natural tooth. Until that tooth is created, a temporary crown (a temporary tooth look alike) is put in its place.
4. Getting a Permanent Crown: At the final appointment with Dr. Khansari, the temporary crown will be replaced with a permanent crown that’ll truly look and feel like a real tooth. It’s secured with permanent cement that’ll have you able to chew, eat and talk like normal.

There may be one extra step besides these 4. If a patient doesn’t have enough bone to fuse and integrate with the implant (as seen in Step 2) the patient will need to have a bone grafting procedure done. At the consultation, you will be able to find out if this step is needed. You can also learn more about this straightforward procedure on our Bone Grafting Page.

Fortunately, most dental insurance policies do cover dental implants but this is based on the type of the policy that you have.

Many insurance companies are beginning to see the importance and long-term health benefits of dental implants, as of right now, it’s probably unlikely that your insurance company will cover the cost of dental implants. However, you can still file a claim in an attempt to get some sort of reimbursement.

Dentists have been using dental implants for a long time, and the technology has advanced quite a bit. Implants are now very sophisticated devices placed by heavily trained professionals. As of right now, it’s one of the strongest and most reliable ways to replace missing teeth. Although rare, problems with an implant are usually minor and fixable.

But just like any surgery, there are possibly complications that could occur. Potential dental implant complications include:

• Infection
• Damage to teeth, blood vessels, or nerves in the surgical area
• Implant rejection
• Sinus problems
• Material of replacement tooth and potential allergies (usually made of titanium or zirconia).