Every year, Dr. Ivey of Ivey Oral & Facial Surgery performs dental implant consultations and surgeries on local residents. From the very first appointment, until he releases you from his care to see your general dentist for permanent crown placement, Dr. Ivey is here for you to answer all your questions about dental implants. To help inform you on the surgical and healing process before your initial consultation, here’s some information about the implant placement process, your recovery, and what everyone wants to know – how dental implants compare cost-wise to other tooth replacement options.
1. Normal
2. Tooth Loss
3. Healed Bone
4. Implant Placed
5. Healing
6. Implant Restored
The Dental Implant Surgery Varies from Patient to Patient
Every dental implant patient is different. Therefore, no two surgical plans for placing dental implants will be the same. Generally speaking, though, the surgery will include:
- Offering you IV sedation to put you asleep, or laughing gas (medically known as nitrous oxide) to make you happy and calm during your surgery
- Numbing the surgical site with a local anesthetic
- Making a small incision in the gum at the implant placement site to reveal the jaw bone to allow the titanium implant to be placed
- Placing either a healing cap, or temporary crown, on top of your dental implant, depending on your surgical and restorative plan that Dr. Ivey will review with your general dentist
- Approximately 3 months after your implant is placed you can visit your general dentist to finalize your restorative plan
Additional aspects of the surgery that vary are whether or not:
- A tooth can be extracted and a dental implant placed during the same surgical procedure
- You require a jaw bone graft to “regrow” lost jawbone, which is a common complication in patients who have been missing teeth for some time
- You require a sinus lift surgery before implants can be placed
- You need a soft tissue graft after implant placement for more stable gums
Dental Implant Presentation
To provide you with a better understanding of dental implants, we have provided the following multimedia presentation. Many common questions pertaining to dental implants are discussed.
Healing from Implant Placement Surgery
Because every dental implant surgery is different, patients will have different recovery timelines. The most common question that Dr. Ivey is asked during dental implant consultations is what will their smile look like after their surgery?
The answer, of course, is that it depends on your unique case. You may:
- Be given temporary, removable teeth to wear during the healing process
- Have a temporary bridge placed
- Be given temporary dentures to wear in the event all teeth are being replaced by dental implants
Dr. Ivey will work closely with your general dentist during the entire dental implant process. Depending on the restorative plan that your general dentist recommends, either a healing cap, flipper (temporary partial), or temporary crown will be placed when your implant is placed. Generally, you will have your permanent restoration 3-6 months after your implant has been placed.
Preventing Infections and Unnecessary Pain
To prevent infections after implant placement, Dr. Ivey typically puts patients on a round of antibiotics, just to be safe. He also provides pain relievers, though most of his patients report minimal discomfort after the procedure.
The Success Rate of Dental Implants
Simply put, dental implants just work. Studies have shown that dental implants successfully last as long as 30 years, in up to 80% of patients who have their entire mouthful of teeth replaced, and 95% of patients who have 1 or just a few teeth replaced.
Considering the Cost of Dental Implants
While dental implants are more expensive than dentures or bridges, the fact that they outlast older tooth replacement methods means they give patients a better ROI. While your upfront costs may be higher, you’ll enjoy your dental implants for longer – up to the rest of your life – so you won’t have replacement costs over the years and decades after you’ve had teeth extracted.
Call to Schedule a Consultation Today
Whether your general dentist has referred you to Dr. Ivey’s practice, or you have missing teeth that you’re ready to replace, Dr. Ivey is happy to help discuss your specific situation with you.
Schedule a consultation today by calling or texting his practice in the Centennial, CO area (303) 493-1933.
