Dental implant services have provided relief to numerous people. If you're exploring the possibility of getting dental implants, you'll probably want to know what the procedure is going to be like.

Let's look at what you should expect from a dental implant procedure.

The Basic Design of Dental Implants

A typical dental implant employs a medical-grade metal post as an anchor. The anchor goes into a layer of bone that sits above your jaw but below your teeth to provide a base for the post. All of this happens below the gum line.

Once the post is secured, a dentist will place an appliance over it. This effectively replaces the missing tooth. Depending on how many teeth a patient needs to replace, implant options range from a single crown-like appliance over one post to an arch similar to a dental bridge that spans two posts. It typically takes four of these arches to fully replace all of a person's teeth.

Pre-Treatment Preparation

Dental implant services providers usually have to help their patients address some oral health concerns before moving ahead with the procedure. If a person has gum disease, for example, the doctor will want to have that under control before the implants go in. Unsurprisingly, many patients also undergo multiple dental extractions before getting implants. The patient will need to heal from these treatments, and that may take several weeks or even months.

Treatment Planning

Before you pursue a dental implant procedure, the doctor will want to set up a treatment plan. You will meet with them to determine how aggressive the procedure is likely to be. The dentist will explain why certain teeth are problematic and what they think will be the best way to use dental implants to solve the problem.

Likewise, the dentist will determine whether it's wise to do the work all in one day. In cases where patients are getting multiple arches, the doctor will prefer to do one side of the mouth in one session, wait a few weeks for healing, and then do the other side. This reduces the odds of the procedure leading to unbearable swelling or even infection.

Installing the Implants

The dental implant procedure won't seem radically different from other trips you've taken to the dentist. You will be in a chair, and the doctor will install the necessary number of implant posts. They may provide permanent or temporary dental appliances to put over the posts. You will then take several weeks to heal before doing a follow-up visit. If necessary, the doctor may order new dental appliances if the previous ones aren't fitting well.

Reach out to a clinic like Smiles By Hogan to learn more.