This plan takes into account your individual circumstances, including how many teeth need to be replaced and the health of your jawbone and remaining teeth.
Schedule your initial consultation today and start your journey towards a pain-free, healthier smile. Contact us now!
Dental implants are titanium posts placed in the jawbone to replace missing tooth roots. As the area heals, the bone fuses with the implant (osseointegration), securing it firmly in place.
After healing, your dentist or oral surgeon attaches an abutment and a custom crown that matches the color and shape of your natural teeth—giving you a fixed, natural-looking smile.
The planning procedure for dental implants may involve a variety of professionals, including a doctor who evaluates conditions of the mouth, face, and jaw (oral and maxillofacial surgeon), a periodontist who specializes in the supporting structures of your teeth, a prosthodontist who designs and fits artificial teeth, and occasionally an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist.
Because dental implants require more than one surgical procedure, you must have a complete evaluation to prepare for the process, including:
Tell your doctor about any medical conditions and medications before the dental implant procedure begins. If you have certain heart conditions or orthopedic implants, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics before surgery to help prevent infection.
You may need dental X-rays, 3D scans, and models of your teeth and jaw.
This plan takes into account your individual circumstances, including how many teeth need to be replaced and the health of your jawbone and remaining teeth.
During the dental implant procedure, your dentist or oral surgeon will make a small incision in the gum to expose the bone. They will then drill a precise hole in the bone and place the metal implant post, positioning it deeply so it can function as the tooth root.
At this stage, the space will still appear as a gap while the area heals. If needed, your oral surgeon can place a partial, temporary denture for appearance. This denture can be removed for sleeping and oral hygiene.
After completing the osseointegration step, you might need an additional procedure to place the abutment—the piece where the crown will ultimately sit. The specialist typically performs this minor step with local anesthesia in an outpatient setting.
To place the abutment, your dentist reopens your gum to expose the dental implant, attaches the abutment to the implant, and then seals the gum tissue around—but not over—the abutment.
Your dentist or oral surgeon can’t place the crown until your gums have healed and your jawbone is strong enough to support the new tooth. You and your provider can choose prosthetic teeth that are removable, fixed, or a combination of both:
In this type of dental implant, an artificial tooth is permanently cemented or screwed onto a custom implant abutment. You cannot remove the tooth for sleeping or cleaning. Typically, each crown is attached to its own implant; however, because implants are very strong, several teeth can be replaced with fewer implants if they are connected as a bridge.
This style is similar to a conventional removable denture and can be full or partial. It features artificial teeth on a pink, gum-colored acrylic base. It’s mounted on a metal framework that attaches to the implant abutments and snaps securely into place. It can be easily removed for cleaning or repair.
Whether your dental implant surgery is completed in one visit or over multiple phases, you may experience common post-procedure effects, such as:
Bruising of the skin and gums
Swelling of the gums and face
Minor bleeding
Pain at the implant site
You might need antibiotics or pain relievers after surgery. If discomfort, swelling, or any other issue worsens in the days following the procedure, contact your dentist.
After each surgical phase, you may need to eat soft foods while the site heals. In most cases, stitches are self-dissolving. If your stitches are not, your oral surgeon will remove them.
Most dental implants are successful, but in some cases the bone does not fuse properly to the metal implant. Eating hard foods during healing, for example, can increase the risk of failure and other complications. If fusion does not occur, the implant is removed, the area is cleaned, and the procedure can usually be attempted again after about three months of healing.
You can help your implant and natural teeth last longer by keeping excellent oral hygiene, avoiding hard or sticky foods while healing, stopping smoking or vaping, attending all follow-up and routine checkups, wearing a night guard if you grind your teeth, and closely following your dentist’s post-operative instructions.
Just as with your natural teeth, keep implants, prosthetic teeth, and gum tissue clean. Specially designed tools—such as interdental brushes that slide between teeth—can help clean the small spaces around the teeth, gums, and implant posts.
Schedule regular dental checkups to ensure your implants stay healthy and function properly, and follow your dental professional’s cleaning recommendations.
Avoid chewing hard items like ice or hard candy, which can crack crowns or natural teeth. Also avoid tobacco and limit staining drinks such as coffee and tea. If you grind your teeth, consult your dentist.
The type of implant, the complexity of the surgery, and your location all affect cost. Dental implants generally come in three varieties: endosteal, subperiosteal, and zygomatic. The most common are endosteal implants, which are placed directly into the jawbone and typically cost $1,000–$3,000 per implant (not including the abutment and crown). Subperiosteal implants—positioned under the gums but above the jawbone—are less common and can cost slightly more due to the more complex placement. Zygomatic implants are the least common and most expensive; they anchor into the cheekbone rather than the jawbone and are usually a last-resort option. When you add the abutment and crown, the total cost per tooth can rise significantly, sometimes reaching $5,000 or more. Prices vary widely by region and dental practice and may not include additional procedures such as sinus lifts, bone grafts, or the initial consultation and imaging.
Many people feel self-conscious about gaps left by missing teeth. Dental implants can help restore confidence. At ORIS Dental Clinics, our dentists and specialists are ready to bring back the beauty and function of your smile. Call us today to book an appointment and start your dental implant treatment. If you’re a referring dentist, you can send patients through our secure online implant referral form.