What Can You Expect During Your Dental Implant Consultation?

Many dentists and patients hold up dental implants as the gold standard for replacing missing teeth. But are they the right choice for your smile? To answer that question, you’ll need to schedule an implant consultation with your dentist. This initial visit helps confirm that you’re a candidate for implants and determines what the rest of the process will look like. To help you prepare, here’s what you can expect to happen during a dental implant consultation.

1. A Complete Oral Examination

Your dentist will examine your teeth and gums carefully to see if there are any problems. Oral health issues like gum disease can easily lead to implant failure, so it’s important to identify and treat them before moving on with the process. Additionally, your dentist will review your medical history to make sure you don’t have any underlying conditions that could complicate implant surgery.

2. Detailed X-Rays and CT Scans

Your dentist will take several X-rays of your jaw to make sure that there’s enough bone density. Dental implants need to fuse with the surrounding bone tissue to stay in place; if there’s not enough bone for them to join with, they will fail.

Additionally, a CT scan will be performed to create a comprehensive image of your teeth, jaw, nerve pathways, and more. This lets your dentist figure out exactly where implants need to be placed while accounting for nearby nerves and other oral structures that will need to be avoided.

3. Discussion of Treatment Options

After the examination is complete and the necessary X-rays have been taken, your dentist will go over your treatment options with you. They’ll confirm whether or not you’re eligible for dental implants based on the current state of your oral health. Sometimes you might be told that you’ll need to have bone grafts and other types of preliminary work done before you can receive implants.

Remember that ultimately it’s your decision whether you’ll move forward with the implant process. You need to be as informed as possible, so don’t hesitate to speak up if you have any questions.

4. Development of a Treatment Plan

If you and your dentist decide that implants are right for you, the last step of the consultation will be to put together a treatment plan. This will include an estimated timeline, the number of appointments required, options for anesthesia and sedation, the expected recovery period, and aftercare instructions. Be sure to voice any questions or concerns.

Knowing what to expect during an implant consultation can make it much easier to take the first step in getting new teeth. Are you considering getting dental implants to rebuild your smile from the roots up? Reach out to your dentist today to schedule your first implant appointment.

About the Author

Dr. Steven Kendrick earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery at the Oklahoma University College of Dentistry, and he has completed training at the Misch International Implant Institute. His practice, Midwest City Dental Center, offers dental implants along with other reliable forms of tooth replacement. To schedule an implant consultation with Dr. Kendrick, visit his website or call (405) 732-0431.