Charlotte Dental Implants

Before Your Dental Implant Procedure

While it would be nice if you could just show up to the office and have a dental implant procedure on day one, that’s never the case because preparatory work must be done. First, we give you a comprehensive dental examination. It gives us a better understanding if you’re the right candidate for the procedure. The last thing we want is to install a dental implant that fails because there wasn’t an exam.

During the exam, we’ll take X-rays and review your medical records. We’re looking to answer the following:

• Does the patient have a weak or suppressed immune system?
• Do they have any allergies to anesthetic or dental materials?
• Are they on a medication that may react to anesthetic or dental materials?
• Should the patient’s jaw be prepared?
• How healthy is the patient?

All of this and more will help your dentist create a plan for the dental implant. The sooner you start, the better. So, contact us!

Antibiotics Before Dental Implant Procedure

Immunosuppressants prevent the body from attacking your implant. This same medication is used during transplants (i.e., heart transplants). The suppressants will act as a substitute immune system. It’s essential for people that suffer from chronic diseases. 

Listening to our staff and taking the medication as instructed is very important. Not complying with the instructions could lead to an implant rejection which suppresses bone growth and bone density and causes pain in the area of the implant. 

Preparing Your Jaw for the Dental Implant Process

During your comprehensive assessment, our dentist will know if your jaw can anchor an implant properly. If it can’t, the dentist will change your jaw’s structure depending on your mouth’s structural issues. Our dentist will do a bone graft if your jaw is too thin or soft. For large and bulky jaw bones, the dentist will remove some. This structural work will be scheduled well before your implant surgery, as you’ll need time to recover.

Fasting For Dental Implant Anesthesia

If you plan on doing general anesthesia, you’ll need to fast 24 hours before your procedure. And be sure to come in comfortable clothes.

Your Dental Implant Procedure – What to Expect

After we have removed your tooth, your jaw has healed, your immunosuppressants have taken effect, and we complete all the preliminary objectives, you’ll finally be ready for your procedure. 

Installing the implant will require your Crown Point dentist to cut open the gum where the tooth is missing to expose the bone. They’ll then drill holes in the bone to place the post, acting as your implant’s root. After this surgery, you’ll still have a gap unless you use a temporary denture placeholder for appearances. Our patients often choose this option because it may take months to heal. 

During the healing process, your jaw will begin osseointegration, where the bone will unite with the implant creating a solid base for your new tooth. 

Placing The Dental Abutment

When your jaw is healed and united with the implant, we place an abutment into the implant, a minor surgery. This time we’ll use a local anesthetic to cut the gum open to expose the implant, and then we’ll join the implant and abutment. Once there, we’ll wait another two weeks before adding your new artificial tooth. While the gums around the abutment heal, they’ll be exposed, so take care to keep it clean by brushing around the area and flossing.

Choosing Your New Dental Crown

Once your abutment has healed, you’ll finally be ready for your new tooth. Losing a tooth isn’t easy, and we understand that you want a tooth that matches your teeth. Using impressions from your teeth, we’ll make a crown that can be a realistic-looking tooth or even gold. 

Which Is Better: A Fixed Crown or Removable?

After choosing the material your crown will be made of, our dental specialist will help you understand whether a fixed or removable crown is best for you. A removable crown is similar to a denture. The crown snaps into place and can be easily taken out for repair or replacement. A fixed crown is permanently cemented or screwed in place. The decision mostly depends on how much support your jawbone gives the implant. 

Is a dental implant procedure considered surgery?

This question may play a big role in your decision because many people like to avoid surgery. A dental implant procedure does require surgery, but it’s minimally invasive. Using the latest technology, we can locate your jawbone and make minor incisions in the gum to place the implant.

While it does require surgery, the recovery isn’t long and drawn out like most traditional surgeries. Dental implant recovery only requires 1-2 days of rest. You’ll also have to eat soft foods for a short period while you adjust to your new tooth and the pain subsides.

Will my new implant hurt?

We’re often asked, “How bad are dental implants pain?” Or, “Do dental implants hurt?” During the dental implant process, you shouldn’t feel pain as the incision area will be numbed with an anesthetic. After the procedure, you will feel some level of discomfort, which is often reported to be mild. We recommend using over-the-counter pain relief. The pain level depends on the number of implants placed during your procedure. No excessive discomfort should occur after around ten days. If the pain worsens after ten days or seems excessive at any point, contact us, as this could be a sign of infection.

What is The Average Cost of Dental Crown

The Dental Implant Cost Guide conducted a study to find the average cost of a dental crown implant. According to the study, the average dental crown cost in the U.S. is $1,000 to $3,000, costing almost as much as the dental implant procedure. Know that these costs aren’t set in stone. We’ll have a better idea of the cost of your crown after the examination. Contact us if you’re interested in getting a dental crown, so we can book you for an appointment. We’re excited to hear from you!

How Long Will My Dental Implant Last?

When you spend money on something expensive, you want to ensure you get your money’s worth, which is true with a dental implant. They are completely worth your money because you’re investing in your health. Dental implants can last 10 – 30 years, longer than any other tooth replacement choice. Depending on age, the implant and abutment can last the rest of your life. The crown lasts 10 – 15 years because of general wear from chewing. The best ways to keep your implant in good condition is to:

• Brush and floss twice a day.
• Come to Crown Point Family Dentistry for 6-month checkups.
• And don’t smoke as it may cause gum disease.

The general idea is that you need to maintain healthy and hygienic practices to keep your implant in great shape.

Dental Implant VS Dentures

The decision between dental implants versus dentures comes down to the patient. We offer both, and they each have advantages and disadvantages. The cost of dentures is less expensive than dental implants. One trade-off of this cost is durability. Dental implants can last 10 – 30 years, while dentures well-kept may last 5 – 7. Dentures usually require more checkups per year than dental implants.

Another factor is how many teeth are missing. You may want dentures for a set of teeth as they’ll be less expensive. Dental implants are usually used to cover gaps in one or two missing teeth. While dental implants cost more, they’ll save you much more money in the long run. If you have the money, we generally recommend getting dental implants, but each case is unique and you can decide after speaking with our dentist. Please book an appointment by contacting us!

Ready to beautify your smile?

If you have any other questions about our dental implant process and how it can benefit you, give us a call or reach out online. Our dentists and staff have provided dental implants in Charlotte over the past twenty years, and we make the process simple and streamlined for you so you can rest easy. Join our list of satisfied patients by contacting us for an appointment!