Investing your time and money in dental implants is one of the best decisions you can make for your oral health. Dental implants have some of the highest success rates, helping over 95% of patients enjoy a healthier, stronger smile. That’s because they’re one of the only treatments that completely restore your smile, prevent bone loss, improve function, and more all at once.
Even if you know how beneficial dental implants are, we understand that you still have many questions. Dr. Thomas Hernandez at Heritage Dental is here to answer them all.
Here’s what you should expect from the dental implant process and beyond.
Every dental implant journey begins with a consultation. Dr. Hernandez closely examines your oral health, takes detailed images of your jaw and tooth roots, and discusses your treatment goals.
These factors help us determine if you’re ready for dental implants. We give you the green light if your gums are healthy and you have enough jawbone to support an implant.
The first official phase of your dental implant process involves creating small incisions that allow us to securely place the metal posts of the implants deep in your gums. We administer a local anesthetic to keep you completely comfortable while we work.
After the initial surgery, you take around 3-4 months to heal. We recommend that you avoid crunchy and tough-to-chew food and extremely hot or cold beverages to protect your mouth as it heals. During that time, we may also ask you to come in periodically so we can check your progress.
Once your mouth has completely recovered, you return to our office. This time, Dr. Hernandez takes a digital impression of your gums and existing teeth. Those impressions go to a lab that manufactures your crowns, bridges, or implant-supported dentures. This helps us ensure that the final result is customized to fit your mouth and match the rest of your teeth flawlessly.
A few weeks later, you make your third and last trip to our office. Dr. Hernandez carefully attaches your crowns, bridges, or implant-supported dentures to the metal posts, and you leave our office with a completely restored smile.
Dental implants can give you a new lease on your smile, but you don’t get to hit cruise control when you leave the dentist’s chair. Your dental implants require just as much care and attention as your natural teeth.
Fortunately, caring for them fits in seamlessly with your regular oral hygiene routine. Consider these simple tips and tricks:
It’s also important to schedule regular check-ups with Dr. Hernandez. Even if you follow our dental implant care instructions to a tee, there’s still a chance that oral health problems can develop unbeknownst to you.
Your dental implants can last a lifetime with diligence and a solid oral hygiene routine.
Ready to take the first step on your dental implant journey? We’d love to talk with you. Call our friendly staff at 281-206-0926 or schedule an appointment online at our Tomball, Texas, office today.
