Tooth loss is a common problem across the United States. Approximately 178 million Americans are missing at least one tooth while 40 million are missing all of their teeth. Fortunately, losing a tooth no longer means that you need to go the rest of your life with a gap in your smile. Dental implants are a preferred tooth replacement option because of their numerous benefits, but you will need to attend a consultation with your dentist before committing to the procedure. Here are the steps that you can expect during your dental implant consultation.
Oral Examination
During your consultation, your dentist will take the time to thoroughly examine your smile. This includes your teeth, gums, and the other areas of your mouth. They’ll also go over your medical history and evaluate your bone density. This is all done to ensure that your mouth will be able to adequately support your dental implants. If you don’t have enough bone density, you may need to get a bone graft before moving forward with dental implants.
X-Rays
It isn’t possible for your dentist to know everything about your smile just by looking at it. This is why X-rays are necessary. This helps them to determine exactly how dense your jawbone is. Your X-rays will also be used to determine precisely where your implant needs to be placed for the greatest chance of long-term success.
Asking Questions
Your dentist will go over all of your treatment options in detail. It is during this time that it will be confirmed whether or not you would make a good dental implant candidate. This is the perfect time to ask any questions you have about the process, finances, or anything else that you want to know ahead of time.
Treatment Plan
Your dentist will discuss your treatment plan with you in detail. This includes the length of your procedure, how many appointments you require, and the types of anesthesia and sedation options that will be available, the amount of time it will take for you to recover, aftercare instructions, and what exactly you can expect when your implants have completely fused with the jawbone.
Wrapping Up
As your consultation comes to an end, you should feel confident about your upcoming procedure. If you think of any questions after you leave the office, just give the practice a call. Your dental team would be happy to get you the information that you’re looking for.
Your dental implant consultation is the perfect opportunity for you to learn more about the procedure and what you can expect afterwards. You’ll be showing off your beautiful pearly whites again in no time!
About the Author
Dr. Nelson Y. Howard is an experienced dentist who has been working in the field for more than 34 years. He earned his dental doctorate from the UCLA School of Dentistry and is proud to be the first dentist in all of North San Diego County and one of only 466+ dentists in the world to become an Accredited Member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). He is also a member of the American Society for Dental Aesthetics, a Founding Member of the West Coast Society for Cosmetic Dentistry and the North County Dentist’s Disability Service. To learn more about dental implants or to schedule a consultation at his office in San Marcos, CA, visit his website or call (760) 599-6559.