Dental Implant Process in St. Charles, MO

Donahue Dental Offers Dental Implant Surgery

Donahue Dental is a leading provider of dental implant surgery for patients in St. Charles, MO and the surrounding area. We perform it for adults who have one or more missing teeth to improve or maintain their facial structure, strengthen oral health, and provide the appearance of a full set of natural, fully functioning teeth. Our team of highly-trained dental experts uses advanced technology in a relaxed setting to ensure your comfort throughout the dental implant process. We will carefully explain what you can expect and why each step of the procedure is beneficial and necessary. Call our friendly staff today to learn more.

Reasons You May Need Dental Implant Surgery

Dental implants are permanent tooth replacement solutions for adults who have lost one or more teeth. As opposed to dentures, dental implants do not require messy daily applications and overnight cleanings. They act and look like natural teeth, allowing you to smile freely, speak clearly, and chew all your favorite foods without worry. But in addition to improving functionality, dental implants can help you maintain good oral health, retain your facial structure, and prevent tooth decay or gum disease. We can perform dental implant surgery for patients who have a jawbone with adequate mass to support the titanium rods that will serve as their artificial tooth roots and are in good health. The process may take several months, but it will yield long-lasting results.

Understanding the Dental Implant Process

The dental implant process will comprise more than one visit to our office. The team of professionals at Donahue Dental will need to see you multiple times but the result will be a full, healthy smile about which you can be proud. The dental implant process includes:

Initial Consultation

Before planning any surgery, we will schedule an appointment for an initial consultation that will consist of a comprehensive oral exam and a review of your medical history. Our team of dental experts will evaluate the condition of your remaining teeth, gums, and jawbone. We will also use X-rays and 3D imaging to assess your jawbone and determine if it has enough mass to support dental implants. Using this information, we can devise a treatment plan that includes dental implant surgery, pain control measures, and any other necessary efforts.

Dental Implant Surgery

The dental implant procedure can take as little as 30 minutes for one implant or up to three hours for multiple. We will guarantee you are comfortable by offering local anesthetics before beginning. Once you are relaxed, our dental surgeon will make a small incision in your gum tissue to expose the bone. He will then drill into the bone to place a titanium post that will serve as your tooth’s root. The top of the implant will be visible and there will still be a gap, so we will provide a temporary denture while we allow time for osseointegration.

Healing Process

After we implant the titanium post, we must wait for the jawbone to heal tightly around it – a process known as osseointegration. During this time, your implant will assimilate into the gumline as a natural tooth would, and the titanium fuses to the jawbone to hold it firmly in place. Once this process is complete, you are ready for the full implant.

Abutment Placement

The second component of a dental implant is the abutment. It screws into the post that was drilled into your jawbone. Because this relatively minor procedure involves reopening your gums, we will use local anesthesia to attach an abutment to your implant. We then allow time for the gum tissue to close around it and heal for up to two weeks.

Choosing Teeth

After your gums have healed, we will make oral impressions for use creating your artificial tooth or teeth. You will be able to choose between a removable or fixed option, with the guidance of our expert dental staff. A removable dental implant snaps securely into a metal frame that we will attach to the abutment. A fixed artificial crown is cemented or permanently screwed onto an individual abutment.

Following Surgery

Once your dental implant is in place and the artificial tooth is attached, you should not be able to differentiate it from your natural teeth. After surgery, you may experience swelling, bruising, or minor pain and bleeding. But that will quickly subside. We can provide pain medications and antibiotics as necessary, and you will want to eat soft foods until the site is completely healed. However, you may then treat your dental implants like regular teeth by practicing good oral hygiene and avoiding damaging habits.

Contact Donahue Dental to Schedule Dental Implant Surgery

As the premier prosthodontist in St. Charles, Donahue Dental is known for having a compassionate staff and providing exceptional oral health care. If you have missing teeth, do not dismiss the issue as merely cosmetic. Missing teeth can have wide-ranging effects on your overall health and appearance. Reach out to our team to discuss the dental implant process and if it is right for you. We will help you find a solution that works so you can proudly smile for pictures, eat your favorite foods, and speak clearly again. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.