Key Takeaways
- A dental implant consists of a titanium post, an abutment, and a custom crown, and it replaces a lost tooth from root to crown.
- Knowing how dental implants work can ease uncertainty, since the process moves through five stages, from your first exam to your final crown.
- The implant typically needs three to six months to fuse fully with the jawbone before the crown is placed.
- Mild soreness and swelling are normal after surgery and usually settle within a few days with basic aftercare.
What Happens When You Get a Dental Implant?
Losing a tooth changes more than your smile. It can affect the way you speak, eat, and feel every day. At Valley Ridge Dental, we’ve walked alongside many patients through this exact experience, and we know how much it matters to feel like yourself again. A dental implant is often the solution that brings that feeling back.
It is a small titanium post that’s placed in your jawbone to act as an artificial tooth root. Once it heals and fuses with the bone, a custom crown is attached on top, giving you a replacement tooth that looks, feels, and functions like a natural one.
We also know the unknown can feel a little overwhelming. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to walk you through how dental implants work, from your first consultation to the moment you see your finished smile, so you know exactly what to expect from our dental implant services and can feel at ease along the way.
What Happens at Each Step of the Dental Implant Procedure?
The dental implant procedure generally moves through five stages. While timelines vary from patient to patient, Dr. Katie Daniels and Dr. James Betz typically follow this sequence with the patients they care for:
Comprehensive Exam And Treatment Planning
At your first visit, we examine your teeth and gums, then take X-rays or a 3D scan of your jawbone to measure bone density and plan the exact position for the implant. Most patients considering a tooth implant procedure start here, since this exam decides whether an implant is the right option right away or whether preparation, such as a bone graft, is needed first.
Implant Placement Surgery
During this stage of the dental implant procedure, we place the titanium implant into the jawbone under local anesthesia, so you should not feel pain during the surgery itself. If a damaged tooth is still present, it is removed beforehand as part of the same visit.
Fusion and Healing
Over the next three to six months, the jawbone continues to fuse with the implant, a process known as osseointegration. Prior to the next step, we will verify that the fusion process is complete using X-rays and other stability tests.
Abutment Placement
Once the implant has fully fused, we uncover it and attach the abutment. The surrounding gum tissue is given one to two weeks to heal around it.
Crown Placement
Finally, we take digital impressions of the implant and surrounding teeth, which a lab uses to create a custom crown. At your last visit, we attach the finished crown to the abutment, completing the process.
Also read: How long do dental implants last
What Will Recovery Feel Like After the Dental Implant Procedure?
Immediately after the placement of the implant, it is normal for you to experience soreness or some swelling around your mouth. The reaction can differ depending on the individual and does not necessarily imply any problem in the process.
A few simple steps can help you recover comfortably:
- Hold an ice pack to your cheek during the first day or two to help reduce swelling.
- Stick to soft foods, such as smoothies, mashed vegetables, and yogurt, and avoid crunchy or hard foods near the healing site.
- Brush and floss gently but consistently to keep the area clean while it heals.
- Call your dentist if swelling, pain, or bleeding gets worse after the first few days.
Conclusion
Now that you know the step-by-step dental implant procedure, it is clear that a dental implant serves to replace a missing tooth, from its root to its crown, through five different phases over many months, with three to six months needed just to fuse the bone. Knowing how dental implants work helps make the entire experience much less intimidating, especially once you know what is involved in the whole process.
Ready to Explore Your Options?
If you’re ready to explore your options, our dental implant services in Lake Elmo, MN, are here to guide you every step of the way.
You can call us at (651) 439-0322 to schedule your consultation or
Visit us at 12425 55th St N, Suite B, Lake Elmo, MN 55042.
We are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
Frequently Asked Questions
With proper oral hygiene and frequent dental checkups, implants can last 15 years or more, and many last a lifetime. The crown on top may ultimately need to be replaced due to regular wear.
The surgical placement is done under local anesthesia, so you should not feel pain during the procedure itself. Most patients describe the days after as similar to recovering from a tooth extraction.
Often, yes. A bone graft can rebuild enough bone to support an implant, though it adds time to the overall dental implant procedure.
No. The procedure is carried out across numerous visits over several months rather than in a single consultation because the jawbone requires time to integrate with the implant.
