Getting Dental Implants Soon? Here’s What to Expect

Whether you had one tooth knocked out in an accident, you needed a full arch of teeth removed because of decay, or you’re somewhere in between, you have a decision to make. You can get dentures, which gives you a quick and easy way to fill in any gaps in your smile, or you can get a dental bridge, which anchors the tooth or teeth in your mouth. 

Dentures can be hard to adjust to and bridges need to be replaced every 5–7 years. If you want a replacement tooth that looks, feels, and functions like your natural tooth and can last your lifetime, you should choose a dental implant. 

Gemini Master-Patel, DMD, and our team offer dental implants right here at Riverside Dental. You can visit our office in Yonkers or Thornwood, New York, to explore if this type of replacement tooth is right for you. 

If it is, you should know what the implant process entails. We give you a quick overview here.

Preparing your jaw for the implant

Dental implants get rooted in your mouth just like a natural tooth. A small titanium post serves as the root for your implant. 

As a result, this type of replacement tooth requires surgery to place the post. Dr. Master-Patel performs this procedure under local anesthesia. If you only need one tooth replaced, she implants one post. If you need several — or even the full arch of teeth — she increases the number of implanted posts accordingly. 

In the months that follow your procedure, your body goes through a process called osseointegration. This means your jawbone heals around the post, stabilizing it in your mouth. 

As your jaw heals, it’s important that you follow Dr. Master-Patel’s care instructions and take any medication she prescribes. 

Successful osseointegration requires a healthy jawbone. If your jaw isn’t quite up to the task, Dr. Master-Patel may recommend bone grafting beforehand. 

Getting your replacement tooth or teeth

Osseointegration usually takes at least a few months. Once that process is complete, Dr. Master-Patel takes an intraoral scan. Using this scan, a lab can customize your replacement tooth to fit precisely in your mouth and color-match your neighboring teeth. 

Making your new tooth usually takes at least a few weeks. Once your tooth is ready, you come back to our office. Dr. Master-Patel anchors your replacement tooth to the post (or replacement teeth to the posts) and you leave with a fully restored smile. You won’t need to modify what you eat, and talking should feel completely natural.

Caring for your dental implant is no different from caring for your natural teeth. As long as you brush and floss daily and visit Dr. Master-Patel for your biannual dental exams, your implant should last your lifetime. 

It’s true, getting a dental implant often takes a while — usually 6–12 months. But once you’re done, you get a long-lasting, comfortable, natural-looking solution. If you think a dental implant might be right for you, call our Riverside Dental office nearest you or book your appointment online today.