Dental Implant Procedure

Are you ready to start living a new life with a perfect smile? With dental implants, it’s easier than you think! The sections below provide detail for each step of the implant process from start to finish, outlining your journey before you even step foot into our practice.

At Premier Dental Implants, we want you to be educated, prepared, and excited for what’s to come! A new smile is just a phone call away; contact our Louisville, KY office today to get started!

The Free Consultation

While getting dental implants can be different for every patient, the process always starts the same – with a free consultation! During the consultation, we will take the time to discuss your needs, interests, and answer your questions. We will also conduct a full visual examination and take x-rays to determine the placement of your implants. The exam and x-ray will also be used to determine if you need treatment for a current condition before proceeding.

Preliminary Treatment

If we determine that you require preliminary treatment, we will inform you of this during your consultation; we may also make arrangements for you to have these treatments performed by a qualified dental surgeon or physician. Some of the conditions we look for include the following:

• Gum disease – If you have gum disease, this condition may hinder the implant from properly integrating into your bone. As gum disease attacks both gum and bone tissue in its progressive stages, it may also cause weakened bone and loss of more natural teeth. Gum disease will require treatment before an implant can be placed.
• Bone loss – Bone loss is a common consequence of tooth loss, as the jawbone lacks stimulation once a tooth is absent from a socket over a period of time. The jawbone lacks stimulation and therefore begins to deteriorate and shrink in the affected region. When bone density is insufficient, it may not hold an implant in place properly; if this is the case, you may require a bone graft before an implant can be successfully positioned.
• Severe damage or tooth decay – If we determine that one or more of your natural teeth is decayed or damaged beyond repair, it may need to be removed prior to implant placement. Left in place, an unhealthy tooth can potentially spread infection to surrounding teeth, the jawbone, or other parts of your body.

Implant Surgery

If you do not need surgery or have already completed any recommended treatments, it will be time to begin implant surgery. 

• The surgery begins with our team offering oral sedation to keep you comfortable throughout the process; oral sedation may make you feel drowsy, calm, and relaxed over the next several hours – even after surgery is over!
• Once the localized area is numb, and we are ready to begin, we will begin by making a small incision in the gum tissue above the area of implant placement.
• Through this opening, we will insert a dental implant post into the jawbone.
• The post will be topped with an abutment before we suture the gum tissue closed for healing.
• You will be provided with a temporary crown until the area has healed properly and we are ready to place your custom-made crown.

Healing Period

Over a period of at least three months, your implant site will heal, and the implant post will begin to fuse to the surrounding gum tissue. During this time, it’s important that you keep the site clean and eliminate harmful habits, such as chewing tobacco or smoking cigarettes.  

• For the first two or three days, swelling and bruising will be present. You may also notice pain and some bleeding at the healing site. 
• Pain and swelling can be managed with ice on the cheek and over-the-counter medication. 
• We recommend that you do not brush the area directly for at least three or four days; instead, brush all surrounding teeth and rinse your mouth with salt water to clean the extraction site.
• Do not use straws or spit over the next few days, as this pressure may cause damage to blood clots and slow the healing process.
• A diet of soft foods must be followed during the week after treatment. For the first few days, a liquid diet is even better. Over the next several months, avoid eating anything hard, crunchy, or chewy.

Restoration With Final Crown

When the area has finally healed, we will invite you back to the office for your permanent crown to be placed. The crown will be custom-made to fit your smile comfortably and aesthetically, visibly blending with surrounding teeth in size, shade, and shape. We will remove the temporary crown and place the new restoration in its place. 

Once this is complete, your full implant procedure is finished! Kept well cared for, this crown can last up to 15 years!