How Does the Dental Implant Process Work?

If you're missing a tooth or two, you’ve probably heard about dental implants. Dental implants don’t just restore your smile. They protect your jawbone, help preserve your facial structure, and prevent neighboring teeth from shifting.

But how exactly do they work, and what should you expect from the process?

Below, Dr. Lovely Manlapaz Teodoro answers these questions and explains the dental implant process here at The Dental Center of Hercules.

Step 1: Personalized consultation

Getting a dental implant starts with a dental exam and a conversation. Dr. Teodoro evaluates your oral health, takes X-rays or 3D scans, and discusses your goals. 

Dental implants can be a standalone restoration, or you can incorporate them into a more comprehensive full-mouth restoration.

If your gums are healthy and you have enough bone, you’re likely a good candidate for dental implants. 

Step 2: Bone graft

If you don’t have enough jawbone to support a dental implant, you’re not necessarily out of the running. Dr. Teodoro may recommend a bone graft. Not everyone needs a bone graft, but if you need one, it’s done before your implant placement. 

Once the bone graft material heals and fortifies your jawbone, it’s time to move to step 3. 

Step 3: Implant placement

Once you’re cleared for dental surgery (and your bone graft has healed, if you had one), the next step is implant placement.

During a minor surgical procedure, Dr. Teodoro places a small titanium post in your jawbone where your missing tooth used to be. This implant acts like an artificial tooth root and provides a solid foundation for your new tooth.

After the titanium implant post is in place, Dr. Teodoro stitches up your incision.

Step 4: Healing and integration

The next step in the process is healing. Your jawbone naturally grows around the implant in a process called osseointegration. This process takes a few months, but it’s what makes your implant so strong. 

Osseointegration is successful in over 98% of dental implant surgeries, but smoking can compromise your implant. In fact, smokers face a 140% increased risk of implant failure, so if you’re a smoker, it’s important to consider smoking cessation prior to starting your dental implant process — or you risk issues at this step of the process.

Step 5: Receive your custom crown

Once your jawbone is healed, Dr. Teodoro places a small connector called an abutment to the dental implant post. Then, your custom-made crown (the visible part of your tooth) is placed on top. The result? A strong, natural-looking tooth that functions just like the real thing.

Step 6: Take care of your dental implant

Taking care of your implant is straightforward. Because it’s permanently attached, there’s no need to remove and soak it (like dentures). Instead, continue to brush it just like your natural teeth.

Avoid anything that can damage your crown. This includes grinding your teeth, smoking, or chewing on ice, hard candy, or nonfood items (like pen caps).

Get started with your implant consultation 

If you’re thinking about dental implants, schedule a consultation with our team at The Dental Center of Hercules. Dr. Teodoro and our team are happy to walk you through every step and help you smile with confidence again.