Fear of the unknown is commonly cited as the reason many patients wait to get the dental work they need. We often stress ourselves out just wondering what to expect. Today we will walk you through a typical implant procedure and focus on the patient experience.
Before Your Appointment
The most important thing you can do before your scheduled procedure is to get a good night’s rest and trust that everything will go well. We will most likely require that you have someone drive you to and from the office, especially if sedatives are used prior to surgery. Antibiotics or antibacterial rinses like chlorhexidine may be prescribed for a number of days prior to your implant placement since a mouth free of infection will heal much faster. Arriving a few minutes early for your appointment will give you a chance to ask any last minute questions before we begin.
During Your Visit
Oral sedation, if you choose, will ensure that you are very relaxed during your visit with us. If you have a phone or iPod with your favorite music, feel free to bring it with you. We will walk you into a treatment room and make sure you are comfortable. Local anesthetic will numb the area to be worked on and if you feel any discomfort, you will be able to let us know. You will hear some drilling and tapping similar to the noises when we do fillings. Many patients don’t remember much of the visit and describe the great nap they had while here. Every case is unique, but you can expect to spend 1 to 2 hours with us for a single implant placement.
When You Get Home
After your driver gets you settled in, your job is to take it easy for a while. It takes a few hours for the local anesthetic to wear off and you want to be very careful not to bite your cheeks or lips during this time. Our staff will give you post-operative instructions and any prescriptions you may need. It is normal to have some swelling and bruising of the gums and soft tissues but this discomfort can be managed with ordinary painkillers. This procedure, believe it or not, is less traumatic than most people expect and you should be able to work or resume normal activities the next day.
Dental implants are by far one of the best ways to replace a missing tooth. With a success rate well over 90% and the ability of lasting a lifetime, rest assured that your dental implant procedure will leave you feeling great about your decision. Contact us today to learn more about this dental procedure and other dental options available to you.