Dental implants have been viewed as the gold standard of tooth replacement for quite some time now, since they’re capable of restoring missing teeth in terms of look, feel, and functionality. That said, if you’re thinking about restoring your missing teeth with the help of this solution, you may have some initial questions you’d like answered beforehand – particularly about what you can expect during your consultation appointment. Here’s a brief idea of what you can anticipate happening during this first step of your dental implant journey!
1. Initial Discussion About Your Dental History & Goals
The first step of any dental implant consultation is a detailed discussion about your dental and medical history. You’ll be asked about previous dental surgeries, any chronic health conditions you have, or any medications you’re currently on – this is all relevant and helps identify factors that might influence your procedure. In addition, your dentist will also want to discuss your dental goals – which likely fall along the lines of wanting a fully functional and beautiful smile once more!
2. Detailed Oral Examination
Next, your dentist will perform a comprehensive oral examination, which involves checking the health of your gums, the condition of any remaining teeth, and any signs of infection or bone loss in the jaw. Healthy gum tissue and sufficient jawbone density are both necessary for dental implant placement. This involves a physical exam as well as imaging and diagnostics that are taken using special technology.
3. Discussion of Treatment Options
Assuming you’re a good candidate for dental implants, your dentist can begin reviewing your treatment options once they’ve gathered all of the necessary information. This part of the consultation is highly personalized, since every patient experiences tooth loss differently. If you’re missing one tooth, a single dental implant post is often recommended, whereas if you’re missing multiple teeth, a bridge or custom-made denture may be needed, any of which can be fully supported by multiple implant posts.
4. Cost & Timeline Overview
You’ll also be given a detailed breakdown of the overall cost, as well as the anticipated timeline, once you and your dentist have settled on an appropriate course of action. You won’t leave the office until you have a good idea of the total cost of your implant procedure, as well as potential additional costs, which might include preliminary procedures. You’ll also be able to review your financial options. Finally, you’ll also carefully review the estimated timeline for the whole process – though in most cases, this is going to be several months from start to finish.
Before you leave, you’ll also have the chance to ask any other questions that might be on your mind – so don’t hesitate to inquire about the pre- or post-treatment process, or anything else pertaining to your dental implants. The more you know, the better prepared you’ll be to set your smile up for lasting future health!
About the Practice
Under the leadership of Dr. Jeff Skupny, the talented team at Island Coast Dentistry has proudly served the needs of patients and families in Naples and the surrounding area for several years. The office offers a wide variety of restorative services and is partnered with the best local dental implant experts to ensure your implant procedure goes as smoothly as possible. If you have any questions about the blog or you’d like to get in touch with the practice to set up an appointment, please reach out online or call today for more information. Telephone: (239) 572-9837.