New Smile Preparations: What to Expect at Your Dental Implant Consultation

Before meeting with your dentist for a dental implant consultation, you may have questions about what the process will look like and how you will benefit from these prosthetics. What appear to be permanent, lifelike, and reliable tooth replacements that can rebuild all types of smiles, they have helped millions of people achieve a better quality of life. If you recently scheduled a consultation with your dentist to inquire about dental implants, read on to find out what you can expect at your initial visit.

Discussion About Your Health History & Smile Goals

When arriving for your appointment, your dentist will start the consultation by inquiring about your oral and overall health history as well as your smile goals. This will allow them to determine if any potential problems may arise (or exist) that could otherwise cause dental implants to fail. These might include an autoimmune disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and more.

They’ll also ask about any current medications you might be taking and what you hope to improve by replacing your missing teeth.

Visual Oral Examination & Imaging

The next step of your consultation is the visual oral examination and digital imaging. Your dental team will begin to look at the status of your teeth and gums to determine if infection or decay exists. If so, appropriate treatments will need to be administered to create the healthiest and strongest environment for your dental implants to thrive.

Depending on the type of technology the dentist uses, they will capture digital images of your mouth to better analyze your oral and facial structures (i.e., teeth, gums, jawbone, etc.).

Review of Jawbone Health

To receive dental implants, you must have a dense and supportive jawbone. Untreated tooth loss can cause bone resorption over time, resulting in insufficient bone for the implants to attach. If it appears this area is not suitable for these kinds of prosthetics, your dentist will need to perform either a bone graft or sinus lift. This will depend on where the implants will be positioned.

Discussion of Available Treatment Options

After reviewing your mouth and jawbone as well as discussing the status of your oral and overall health, your dentist will discuss which type of dental implant you will receive. If you are without a missing tooth, you’ll only need a single titanium post. If you lack multiple teeth, an implant bridge can be crafted to fill in the gap. If an entire row is missing, several posts can be positioned along the gumline to create a stable base for a future implant denture.

Review of Dental Implant Cost & Timeframe for Completion

No two dental implant cases are alike, so the cost and timeline for treatment will be different for each person.

After all the details are compiled by your dentist, you can expect them to go over how long they expect it to take as well as how much treatment will cost. The average timeframe is up to a year, depending on how many preliminary services are required, but the price will vary based on the number of implants needed, if additional oral healthcare is required, and if dental insurance will help with out-of-pocket expenses.

Rebuilding your smile with dental implants can give you the health and aesthetics you deserve. With a trusted dentist by your side, you can expect personalized care and outstanding results.

About the Practice
At McComb Family Dental, our team consists of multiple dentists who believe your smile deserves exceptional care and attention. Offering many life-changing services in-house, we can replace any number of missing teeth with safe and reliable dental implants. Known for their longevity and durability, these prosthetics can change the way you eat, speak, and smile. Contact us at (419) 293-2335 if you want to restore and rebuild your appearance so that it delivers the confidence you desire.