Dental Implants Specialist

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are the next best thing to your permanent natural teeth. Unlike traditional oral prosthetics that rely on your surrounding teeth for support, your dentist places implants into your empty tooth sockets. Following surgery, your bone tissue grows around the implants, fusing them to your jawbone. 

After your mouth finishes healing, Dr. Phan applies a crown to each implant. These crowns allow you to chew, bite, and speak comfortably and confidently. If you’re missing all of your teeth, dental implants provide a much more comfortable alternative to traditional dentures. Dental implants won’t irritate your gums, they don’t slip or slide around, and they don’t require the use of sticky adhesives. 

Am I a candidate for dental implants?

To determine if you’re a candidate for dental implants, make an appointment at TLC Dental. Following a review of your medical history, oral exam, and discussion of your treatment goals, Dr. Phan makes recommendations that align with your individual needs. That said, if you have healthy gums and plenty of jawbone, you’re probably a good candidate for implants. 

What is the process for receiving dental implants?

Receiving dental implants takes a period of between six months and one year. Though this may seem like a long time, it’s important to remember that dental implants can last a lifetime with proper care. 

At your initial consultation, Dr. Phan performs an oral exam, asks you about your goals for treatment, and takes a series of digital CT scans to get a closer look at your tooth roots and jawbone. If there are no signs of infection, and you have plenty of healthy bone tissue, you can move forward with treatment.

First, your provider administers a local anesthetic. After the anesthesia sets in, your provider carefully places one implant in each of your missing tooth sockets. Following surgery, your provider sends you home and provides you with a list of recovery instructions.

About three to four months later, you return to TLC Dental for your second appointment. At your second appointment, a team member uses a state-of-the-art digital scanning tool to take digital impressions of your existing teeth and gumline. Dr. Phan manufactures your custom crowns for your implants using the CEREC milling machine. He then attaches a crown to each implant, effectively restoring your smile. 

If you’re interested in learning more about dental implants, make an appointment at TLC Dental. Call the office or use the online booking tool to request your consultation today.