What To Expect

How Long Will My Procedure Take?

You can expect to wait several months between your initial consultation and the final surgery. Dental implant surgery is completed in stages to allow your jawbone time to heal between procedures. We will have to conduct X-rays and create teeth models to ensure your dental implants look and feel natural in your smile. After you have gone through the necessary planning and completed the surgery, you can expect the recovery to take three to four days. We promise having natural-looking teeth that make you feel confident eating, laughing, and talking will be well worth the weight.

What Can I Expect from My Initial Consultation?

We will conduct a full evaluation on your first visit. Expect to have your mouth X-rayed and your teeth modeled. Taking these steps is essential for making the teeth look and fit naturally in your mouth. After this initial evaluation, we will assess the condition of your jawbone. Preserving the health and strength of your jawbone is crucial to dental implant surgery. The more teeth you plan to have replaced with implants, the stronger your jaw must be to endure the stress of the procedure. This can be a relatively time-consuming part of the process, as we plan the best procedure for your overall oral health.

What Happens During Dental Implant Surgery?

Because this surgery is contingent on your jawbone healing completely before the implant can be set appropriately, the procedure is completed in several stages:

Removal of damaged tooth: If your damaged tooth has not already been extracted, we will first remove it and allow the surrounding gums to heal.

Preparing the jaw for surgery: After your jaw has healed from the initial extraction or incident causing the missing or damaged tooth, we prep the jaw. This often includes bone grafting, which is explained in more detail below.

Inserting the implant: After the jaw has healed for the second time, we insert the implant, or titanium rod, into the jawbone. This post will serve as the anchor for the artificial tooth. Your jaw will need time to heal again after this step.

Placing the abutment: Finally, we place the abutment and crown. The abutment is the piece that screws into the implant. We refer to it as the connector because the crown, or artificial tooth, attaches on top. This completes the full implant.

What Is the Bone Grafting Process Like?

If the site on your jawbone where the dental implant surgery will take place is too soft or thin, you will need bone grafting. Once your dental implant has been surgically implanted in your gumline, it will exert pressure on your jawbone while chewing. We must ensure your jawbone is extra durable to handle that added pressure. Bone grafting is essentially the practice of transplanting a small bit of bone to help solidify the base of your jawbone. The transplant material typically comes from the upper or lower jawbone away from the site of the implant. If necessary, the transplant can come from another part of the body.

Depending on the strength of your jaw, you could need time for your bone grafting site to heal before we place the implant. In some cases, patients can have both their bone grafting and implant insertion done at the same time. After the implant is inserted in the jawline, you will be given a temporary removable denture. This denture gives your implant the appearance of a real tooth and allows for the implant to heal. During healing, your jawbone will grow into and unite with the surface of the implant. This process is called osseointegration and can take several months.

How Does Abutment Placement Work?

After your jaw and implant site have healed and the osseointegration process has taken effect, we will install the abutment. The placement of the abutment is a minor outpatient procedure, done most commonly with local anesthesia. Our surgeon, Dr. William Wayne, will reopen your gum to attach the abutment to the exposed dental implant. After the abutment is placed, the gum tissue is closed and left to heal for one to two weeks. Once healed, your artificial tooth will be placed. Each crown has been designed to match your natural teeth and fitted to sit and chew comfortably in your mouth.

Recovering After Dental Implant Surgery in Ottawa, ON

Minor discomfort is normal following a dental implant surgery in our Ottawa, ON practice. You can expect swelling, bruising, and pain on your face and gums, as well as some minor bleeding. Be sure to contact us if your symptoms persist or become severe. To help you heal quickly, we recommend eating soft foods and using icepacks for pain and swelling. To avoid complications, you should also avoid using tobacco products and engaging in harmful oral habits, such as chewing ice or hard candy. Be sure to practice proper oral hygiene and attend all your follow-up and regularly scheduled dentist appointments.

Have More Questions for Oral Surgery on Merivale?

Give us a call today to discuss your dental implant procedure further. We want to ensure all of our Ottowa, ON patients feel at ease in our office and when they leave it. You’re well on your way to enjoying a beautiful new smile!