Dental implant placement
A dental implant is a small post placed in the jaw to hold a replacement tooth. The surgeon here places the implant. Your dentist makes and fits the tooth.
Two offices work on one implant: ours for the surgery, and yours for the tooth. We plan the placement with the dentist who will restore it, so the two parts fit.
What happens
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Step 1: Scan and plan with your dentist
The surgeon reviews the scan with the restorative dentist and decides where the implant goes.
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Step 2: Placement
The post is placed in the jaw, usually in one visit. A bone graft may come first or at the same time.
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Step 3: Healing
The post and the bone join over a period of weeks to months. The surgeon checks the site along the way.
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Step 4: Your dentist fits the tooth
When the surgeon says the site is ready, the patient returns to the dentist for the tooth.
Comfort, choices and care
Comfort
The area is numbed with a local anesthetic. Some patients choose nitrous oxide or IV sedation. The anesthesia page says who gives it and how you are watched.
Anesthesia and comfortOther choices, and waiting
A bridge or a partial denture can also replace a tooth. If a gap is left, nearby teeth can shift and the bone around it can thin. The surgeon explains what each choice involves.
Risks and after-care
Swelling, bruising and soreness are common. Infection, an implant that doesn't join the bone and, less often, numbness or sinus trouble can happen. You leave with written after-care instructions.
How it is billed
You get a written estimate for the surgery before the visit. Your dentist bills for the tooth separately.
How fees work
Questions about implants
Who makes the tooth?
Your dentist or a restorative dentist you choose. The surgeon places the implant and tells your dentist when the site is ready.
How long does an implant take?
Healing takes weeks to months, and the visits are spread across that time. The surgeon gives you the steps for your case.
Can everyone have an implant?
The scan and your health history decide. The surgeon explains what applies to you, and what the other choices are.
Ask the desk about an implant
The surgeon who places it is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Training is listed on the About page.