Start the restoration of your smile with a dental implant consultation.

If you’ve heard of dental implants before, you may know they’re widely considered to be the best tooth replacement option out there. This makes them a great option to consider any time you need to replace a missing tooth, but we understand that dental implants sound intimidating at first. Thankfully, the good news is they’re not nearly as intimidating as they seem!

Dental implants are incredibly common, with the American Dental Association reporting that about 5 million implants are placed every year in the United States. Learning that they’re so common can help tooth implants feel less intimidating—and so can a great dentist!

When you choose a great dentist in Omaha to place your implant, they’ll do their best to make the process as simple, easy, and stress-free as possible. Once it’s complete, you’ll have a naturally beautiful and functional smile. For many people, this makes implants worth looking into with a consultation. But just what can you expect during your dental implant consultation, and how can you prepare for it? That’s where we come in! We’ve put together a guide to help ensure you feel prepared for your appointment.

The Basics of Dental Implants

Before you schedule a dental implant consultation, it’s wise to know the basics about dental implants, such as what they are, what they’re used for, and what their benefits are. Dental implants are titanium metal rods that are embedded directly into your jaw bone to replace your natural tooth root. They’re then secured with a prosthetic tooth like a dental crown, bridge, or dentures.

Like other tooth replacement options, dental implants restore the appearance and function of your natural tooth, but replacing your tooth root as well as the tooth’s chewing surface allows dental implants to restore your tooth’s feeling and function on a much deeper level. Implants have more stability and are stronger than other tooth replacement options, and they’re also the only treatment that protects your jaw from bone loss in the long term.

Knowing these facts makes it easier to understand why you’d want a dental implant and why it might be best for you! Despite this, you don’t have to know or understand everything about dental implants because your implant consultation is a chance for you to voice your questions and learn more, but knowing the basics ensures that you’re in a good place to discuss and learn more about them.

Visiting Your Dentist for a Consultation  

When you schedule a dental implant consultation, you’re not committing to receiving the treatment; you’re just saying you want to learn more about it and determine if implants are an option for you. It’s often a crucial step in deciding if you want them, but it’s meant to be very low pressure. As a result, a large part of your implant consultation will involve chatting with your dentist and asking them any questions you have about implants, the procedures involved in their placement, and the recovery process.

You’ll also spend time discussing your treatment goals with your dentist to ensure implants will meet your needs and wants. You should also expect to receive a dental exam with X-rays or CT scans. This will allow your dentist to examine the health of your teeth, gums, and jaw bone and determine if you’re a good fit for dental implants. If you decide you do want implants, these scans are also an important part of planning their placement.

Planning Your Treatment

Your dentist will consider several factors during your implant exams to determine if you’re a good fit for them and how they should go about your specific treatment. This includes factors like how many implants you need and if you have any preexisting medical conditions. Since certain health conditions can impact how quickly you heal or increase your likelihood of getting an infection, they need to be considered carefully before you choose a dental implant. Your dentist will also pay close attention to the health of your gums and remaining teeth, as both need to be healthy before you undergo treatment.

Since dental implants are anchored directly into your jawbone, they’ll also pay special attention to its density to ensure it’s healthy enough to support an implant. If it’s not, you may be able to get a bone graft before placing your implant. Bone grafts encourage your jaw to grow new bone and improve its density, but the process takes time. Many patients find that the results are worth it, but it’s important to know that bone grafts generally add a few months to your treatment time.

Preparing for Your Dental Implant Consultation

If you’re not sure what you should do to prepare for your dental implant consultation, don’t worry—it’s pretty simple! It’s best to do a little research on dental implants and write down any questions you have for your dentist. Since your medical history is also an important part of deciding if you’re a good fit for implants and planning your treatment, you should also organize your medical history and write down which medications, if any, you’re taking.

Make sure to practice great oral hygiene leading up to your appointment, including brushing your teeth for two minutes twice a day, flossing at least once a day, and using mouthwash. This ensures your teeth and gums are as healthy as possible going into your treatment. These ways of preparing for your implant consultation are relatively simple, but making sure to do them will help you get the most from your appointment.

Schedule your implant consultation to get started on your dental implant journey. 

Dental implants are the best tooth replacement option modern dentistry has to offer because they protect and restore your missing tooth down to the root, but they’re not always right for everyone. Scheduling an implant consultation with your dentist is the first step to determining if an implant would work for you and if it fits your treatment needs and goals. If you’d like to start the process, feel free to schedule an appointment with us at any time!