Your dental implant procedure will consist of both an implant phase and a restoration phase. We do not perform the implant portion of your procedure at Cooley Smiles. Instead, we work closely with a group of oral surgeons and periodontists who insert the dental implants before we complete your restoration.The Implant Phase
Before the dental implant is placed, you will need to provide the implant dentist with your entire medical background, including any medications you are currently taking. A thorough examination, including x-rays and digital imaging of your teeth and gums will be performed, and a date will be set for your implant procedure.
Before your procedure, you will be given pain relievers and a mild sedative to ensure your maximum comfort. Using a small drill, your implant dentist will create a hole for the dental implant in your jaw. With great care and precision, he will then insert the implant into the hole and secure it into place.
Over the next several months, you will undergo a process called osseointegration, where the dental implant fuses to your jawbone. Once the osseointegration process is complete, you will return to have the titanium abutment attached to the implant, making you ready for the restoration phase.
The Restoration Phase
After the titanium post, also called an abutment, has been attached to your dental implant, you will return to Cooley Smiles to have your dental crown constructed. During your first visit, we will take an impression of your teeth which will be sent to our dental labs to create your new crown. We will then fit you with a temporary crown to wear until your permanent dental crown is completed.
Once your new crown has arrived at our office, you will come back in to have it placed over your implant. Your dental crown will be matched exactly in size, shape, and color to your adjacent teeth, providing you with a functionally sound, aesthetically beautiful prosthetic tooth.
The process for placing an implant may seem to take a long time. However, dental implants provide you with the most long lasting and effective treatment method to replace your missing teeth.
If you have a missing tooth that needs to be replaced, please contact the Bellevue implant dentists at Cooley Smiles today to set up an initial consultation. We serve patients in Seattle and Bellevue, Washington.
