The dental implant process consists of three parts

• Step one: we will evaluate the quality and health of the bone in which the implant is to be placed using a 3D scan of your jaw. We want to ensure your jaw is healthy and strong enough to successfully support your new implant(s).
• Step two: the oral surgeon will surgically place the actual “implant” (usually biocompatible titanium screws) into the jawbone. Each implant acts as a replacement root for your new teeth. Depending upon your needs, you will have one or several implants placed into your jaw. Surgical healing from this portion of the process takes approximately four to six months because your bone needs to grow around the screw and heal enough to hold the implant in place. Remember, everyone is different in how long it takes to sufficiently heal. 

 While you are waiting for full healing, you will wear attractive dentures or perhaps even your permanent crowns depending upon your needs. We generally ask our patients to eat a soft diet, avoiding hard or crunchy foods, during this phase to protect your jaw as it heals.

• Step three: in this “restoration” stage, we develop your new crowns or bridge-supported crowns which will be permanently attached to your implants. For some, this means we will place the adaptation of your new or existing denture to your implants. An “abutment” is placed at the top of each implant screw. The abutments will shape the gums for better health and appearance, and hold the crowns, bridges, or dentures in place. So, each “dental implant” is itself also three parts: implant, abutment, and restoration.