Complete Dentistry for All Ages offers dental implants to patients who have lost one or more permanent teeth. Dental implants are an advanced restorative solution for missing teeth. Implants also have a high success rate and long-term oral health benefits. Dr. Morgan Chambers provides several different options for dental implants. We welcome you to learn about the dental implant process in our Lexington, KY, dental office.
Whether you’re missing one or several teeth, our dentist can create a personalized treatment plan to restore health and function to your smile. Dr. Chambers will walk you through the dental implant process before restorative treatment. She educates patients on their choices, including dental implants, along with her caring and compassionate staff. Our team helps you make the best decision for your long-term dental health.
The Dental Implant Process in Lexington, KY
The dental implant procedure requires many visits over several months. This is because the procedure involves placing an artificial tooth root into the jawbone and then waiting for it to heal. The entire implant process usually takes six to eight months. Most patients don’t have any disruption to their daily lives during the process.
Treatment Preparation
Implant treatment begins with a comprehensive evaluation. Dr. Chambers will look for signs of tooth damage, gum disease, and tooth infection. She’ll take digital X-rays to view your jaw bone and missing teeth.
After evaluating your oral health, Dr. Chambers will create a personalized treatment plan. The plan will include an expected timeframe, procedures that she’ll provide, and more. Dr. Chambers will continue the process if the treatment plan satisfies your wants and needs. The treatment plan usually consists of preparation, oral surgery, and restoration.
If Dr. Chambers finds underlying dental issues that can compromise the results, she’ll treat those issues first. Pretreatments can include a tooth extraction, gum disease treatment and more. The implant procedure also requires that the patient have enough bone density in the jaw. The jawbone will need to accommodate a screw or metal post that’ll hold the artificial tooth in place.
Jaw bone loss is common after you lose a tooth. If you don’t have enough jaw bone to support implants, we’ll recommend bone grafting. We want to ensure your natural teeth and gums are healthy before moving on to the next step.
Implant Placement
The next step is oral surgery to place the implant post securely in your mouth. Using her advanced surgical and sedation training, Dr. Chambers can perform the surgical phase in her dental office. She may also work with a local oral surgeon or periodontist to coordinate the surgical phase of treatment.
The implant post is a metal anchor and small post that our dentist will surgically place into your jawbone. The simple surgical procedure doesn’t take long to complete. The surgeon can place one implant in 30 to 60 minutes. It can take 2 or more hours to place multiple implants.
You’ll get anesthetic for your comfort and sedation depending on your treatment time. After surgery, we’ll let your mouth heal over the implant post so that it integrates with the natural bone. The post will serve as a stable anchor and replacement tooth root for the new prosthetic teeth.
This healing process, called osseointegration, can take three to six months. Dr. Chambers will place a temporary prosthetic in your mouth while it heals.
Abutment Placement and the Final Restoration
While your mouth heals, our dental laboratory creates your new dental crown, denture, or bridge. After three to six months, Dr. Chambers will attach the abutment once the dental implant fully fuses with your jaw bone.
The abutment is the piece connecting the implant post to the dental prosthetic. After we place this connector piece, your gums will need several weeks to heal.
Once you heal, you’ll return to our office. Dr. Chambers will permanently secure the dental crown, bridge, or denture to the implant abutment. We’ll ensure you leave the office with a beautiful new dental restoration that fits seamlessly with the rest of your smile.
How to Care for Dental Implants
Dental implants are simple to maintain. At home, clean the implant site gently using a soft-bristled toothbrush. Avoid toothpaste with abrasive ingredients because this can scratch your restoration.
Eat soft foods for the first month while your mouth heals, and avoid spicy and hard foods. Soft foods will reduce irritation and pain. It’ll take time to get used to your replacement teeth. While you can begin eating soft foods, you can gradually begin to eat chewier and harder foods.
We’ll provide instructions about caring for your dental implants. However, please let us know if you have any questions for our office.
Are Dental Implants For You?
Implants are worth it for many patients. Dental implants have a success rate of over 95 percent. We’ll make sure you’re a good candidate for dental implants before treatment. Our office will treat problems like gum disease, cavities, tooth damage, and more before implant treatment.
Implant failure is rare. As long as you care for your restoration after treatment, your implants should heal properly. To reduce the risk of implant loss, please stop smoking during implant treatment. Our office will also provide instructions on how to clean the implant sites and restorations.
Whether you have one missing tooth or all of your teeth missing, implants offer many benefits. Firstly, dental implants ensure restorations last longer. You must replace or rebase traditional bridges and dentures over time.
However, the implant posts will permanently stay in your jaw. Because implants are permanent, implant restorations will create a lasting, functional bite.
Implant restorations also use tooth-colored materials like porcelain, which we color-match to teeth. We ensure restorations blend in with the appearance of a natural smile.
Call Our Lexington Dental Office
If you’re missing teeth and want implants, schedule a dental appointment with Dr. Chambers today. She’ll discuss your dental health, cosmetic goals, and budget concerns with you to decide if implants are right for you.
After graduating with honors from the University of Kentucky School of Dentistry, Dr. Chambers didn’t stop her education. She completed a rigorous General Practice Residency, receiving advanced training in surgical procedures. This foundational surgical experience, combined with her specific Implant Certification from Alabama Implant Education, means you are in highly capable hands. She uses these progressive oral healthcare methods to ensure your implant procedure is performed with precision and care.
For Dr. Chambers, oral health is deeply personal. From your first consultation, you’ll experience her kind and empathetic diagnostic approach. She understands that patient-doctor trust is critical, especially for a procedure as significant as an implant.
If you have any questions about the dental implant process in our Lexington, KY office, let us know at your next visit. We’re here to help you restore your smile.
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