Dental implants are an effective way to replace missing teeth

Do work with a qualified dentist

You need to make sure that your dentist has an appropriate training and expertise to perform surgical and restorative procedures with dental implants. Most of the general dentists will refer a patient for a surgical procedure to a specialist and will perform prosthetic procedures themselves. In more complex restorative situations your dentist may also decide to refer you to a specialist to do a restorative work. Specialists with additional training and certification in implant dentistry include oral surgeons, periodontists, prosthodontists, and implant dentistry specialists.

Do understand the treatment process

The treatment process with dental implants typically includes 3 stages: surgical, prosthetic, and maintenance. During surgical stage titanium screw is implanted into the jaw bone of the patient. If patient does not have sufficient amount of jawbone additional bone grafting may be required. Bone grafting can be performed as a separate procedure or at the time of implant placement. Surgical stage of treatment may take somewhere from three month for a straightforward situation and up to one year if there is a need for a bone grafting. Prosthetic stage of the treatment include fabrication and placement of artificial prosthetic teeth such as crowns, bridges, and dentures. In some instances patient will a require a provisional restoration which replaces missing tooth or teeth during surgical stage or acts as a prototype for a final restoration.The prosthetic stage of the treatment may take somewhere from several weeks and up to 6 month to year. During the maintenance stage of treatment the performance of the implant and artificial prosthesis is periodically evaluated and professional cleaning performed as necessary.

Do understand treatment options and medical consent

Dental procedures performed by qualified dentists have high success and low rate of complications. However, problems do occur during the treatment process and after completion of the treatment. As a result, it is important for you to understand available options, their advantages, disadvantages and risks involved in the treatment process. By doing so you can make an educated decision which satisfied your goals and risk tolerance associated with the treatment process.

Do understand the treatment time and cost

Complexity and cost of implant treatment can greatly vary depending on your clinical condition and chosen treatment plan. In some situations treatment process can take several appointments which can be finished over several month period. In more complex situations treatment process requires numerous appointments, several surgeries, and may take a year or more to complete. Treatment cost can also greatly vary depending on the treatment plan and your clinical condition.

Do provide accurate information on your health history

Implant treatment includes standard surgical and restorative procedures which utilizes a number of artificial materials. If you need grafting procedures your dentist may decide to use your own tissues, synthetic materials, or specially treated human or animal tissues.

Provide all relevant and accurate health history information such as medical conditions, past treatments, allergies, and history of tobacco and alcohol use. Also provide information about health care providers involved in your care. If needed your dentist will contact your medical doctor to get and an input into the treatment process. Your dentist also may decide to refer you to another medical specialist for an evaluation.

Do not hesitate to discuss any fears you may have

Discuss your fears and anxiety about the treatment with your dentist. All surgical and some restorative implant procedures are performed with the help of local anesthesia. If you have severe fears or require complex surgery, use of local anesthetic may not be adequate. This problem can be address with a help of sedation procedures. Your dentist may present you with options of oral sedation, intravenous sedation, and general anesthesia. After consultation and review of options you and your dentist can decide what is the best approach for you.

Do not fail to follow a prescribed postsurgical and follow up instructions

Success of the surgical and restorative procedures depends not only on the dental team, but also on the patient’s adherence to the postsurgical and follow up instructions. For example after the surgery you may be required to take an antibiotic, adhere to “soft diet” and special cleaning regime. Your dentist may also ask you to follow specific instructions on how to use provisional appliances and ask you to use retainer or a night guard.

Do not skip on periodic checkup and cleaning appointments

Just like natural teeth, implants need to be monitored and professionally serviced on a periodic basis. Your dentist will developed a necessary preventive regimen for your restorations. By doing so, some problems can be prevented and if detected, addressed early.

Do not hesitate to contact your dentist if there is a problem

You should not hesitate to contact your dentist if any problems or complications happen after getting your implants or restoration. By doing so, potential problems can be addressed and prevented earlier in the process. Call your dentist right away if you have any suspicion of complications.