Dental implants are a safe and effective option for natural-looking, long-lasting tooth replacement. Unlike traditional dentures, they provide a strong, stable function, and are tailor-made to match your natural teeth. Dental implants are made to be cohesive with the aesthetics of your smile.
Dental implants at Contemporary Implant & Oral Surgery are precision-milled titanium medical devices with custom attachments and are meant to last decades. With proper care, they can last a lifetime.
Among countless other benefits, implants can help improve the contour of your face, improve speech, and protect the integrity of your bone structure.
How dental implant surgery is performed depends on the type of implant and the condition of your jawbone. Dental implant surgery may involve several procedures.
During surgery to place the dental implant, Dr. Phan will make a cut to open your gum and expose the bone. Holes are drilled into the bone where the dental implant metal post will be placed. Since the post will serve as the tooth root, it is implanted deep into the bone.
The average recovery time from a dental implant is three to five days for multiple teeth, and just 24 hours for single implant recovery. During this time, you may have some minor pain and swelling. Further healing will take place over the next four to six months, which we refer to as your complete biological healing. This period of healing does not cause any pain or discomfort. Many state-of-the-art procedures, like the All-On-4® approach, minimize the healing time for implant patients.
When Bone Grafting is Required
In the jaw, our bone growth occurs in response to stimulation, that is, when we use our teeth to bite or chew. When we lose a tooth, there’s nothing to stimulate the bone. So, it starts to shrink. If the tooth isn’t replaced relatively soon with a dental implant, it can lead to secondary complications.
When your jawbone does not have the sufficient height or width to securely anchor a dental implant, a bone graft is often recommended to repair the damage and create the proper environment for implant placement.
Waiting for Bone Growth
Once the implant post is placed in your jawbone, the bone grows and integrates with the titanium post. This process can take a few months, but ensures a secure base for the rest of your implant, so it behaves just like a natural tooth root.
Placing the Implant
After the bone growth stage is complete, and the jawbone has united with the implant post, you will be ready to have the abutment placed onto the implant post. This is the piece of the implant to which the crown will eventually be attached.
Once the abutment is placed, your gums must heal for about two weeks before the crown can be attached.
How do you care for a dental implant?
When you undergo dental implant surgery, whether it is done in one stage or in multiple stages, you may experience the typical recovery associated with any type of dental surgery.
Dental surgery may result in some discomfort in the initial few days while your body is healing.
Dr. Phan will instruct you on ways to manage any swelling and pain that typically occurs in the days following surgery.
After each stage of surgery, you may need to eat soft foods while you are healing.
Your Experience at Contemporary Implant & Oral Surgery
Dr. Phan has received extensive training with single and multiple tooth replacement implants. Due to having experience from thousands of implant cases, our team can evaluate your needs and make recommendations for the best implant treatment options for you.
Unlike most dentists, our doctors received six years of surgical training after dental school and are also credentialed to administer various types of anesthetic and sedation, including general, oral, and IV.
Dr. Phan utilizes advanced techniques, materials, and technology, and invest significant resources in the most current instruments and team training to elevate the care we provide. He also undergoes continuing education in order to stay ahead of the curve on the most recent trends and techniques in oral surgery.
You will benefit from Dr. Phan’s expertise in many other areas as well, including a carefully thought-out office, designed with the particular needs of oral surgery in mind. Our space is comfortable and modern, and will allow you to experience hospital-level care within a very peaceful and private environment. We take the time to listen to, carefully diagnose, and treat our patients, all with that private practice feeling our patients love.
If you are looking for the very best in surgical care, please schedule a consultation at our Plano office to explore all of your surgical options.