After Implant Placement

What Can I Use For Teeth While The Implants Heal?

What Are The Potential Problems?

Although it is natural to be concerned about the pain that may be caused by these procedures, most patients do not experience severe or significant postoperative pain. Pain medication and antibiotics will be prescribed for you to make your recovery as easy as possible. Occasionally, some people develop postoperative infections that require additional antibiotic treatment.

Even though great care is taken to place the implant precisely, occasionally adjacent teeth are injured in the placement process. In addition, there is a chance that the nerve in the lower jaw, which provides sensation to your lower lip and chin, may be affected. If you are missing quite a lot of bone, it might be difficult to place an implant without infringing on the nerve space. Although we take great care to avoid this nerve, occasionally it is irritated during the procedure, resulting in tingling, numbness or a complete lack of sensation in your lip, chin or tongue. Usually these altered sensations will resolve within time, but they can be permanent and/or painful. If you notify us of post-operative numbness as soon as possible, it will allow us to manage your care in the most appropriate way.

How Long Will My Implant Last?

With the proper care an implant can last a long time. When patients are missing all of their teeth, long-term studies (more than 30 years) show an 80 to 90 percent success rate. For patients missing one or several teeth, recent studies show a success rate of greater than 95 percent, which compares favorably with other areas in the body that receive implant replacement (such as hips or knees). However, if one or more of your dental implants either does not heal properly or loosens after a period of time, you may need to have it removed. After the site heals (or on occasion at the time of removal), another implant usually can be placed.

Please keep in mind that any tooth replaced by an implant must be maintained just as natural tooth. Regular cleanings, good oral hygiene, as well as refraining from smoking are necessary to the longevity of your dental implant. Dental implants, just as natural teeth can suffer from periodontal disease and bone loss incurred by neglecting to maintain good oral health and hygiene.

When Are The Replacement Teeth Attached To The Implant?

All restorative phases of your implant, such as impressions for crowns or dentures, fabricating and placement of the implant crowns or dentures are done by your general dentist. We will work with them to help ensure that the placement of  the implant by our office and the placement of the final implant crowns or dentures goes smoothly.

The replacement tooth is usually attached to the implant when adequate healing has occurred and your jaw bone is firmly fused to the implant. Depending on a variety of factors, it may be possible to begin this phase of your treatment shortly after implant placement. We will help your general dentist plan the most appropriate treatment sequence and timing for your particular situation.

The dental work required to complete your treatment is complex. Most of the work involves actually making the new tooth before it is placed on your implant. Your appointments for restoration with your general dentist are usually more comfortable and more pleasant than previous methods of tooth replacement. Frequently, this process can be performed without local anesthesia.

Your restorative treatment begins with specialized impressions that allow your general dentist to produce a replica of your mouth and implant. They will also make “bite” records so that they can see the relationship of your upper and lower jaws. With this information, they will make the abutments (support posts) that attach your replacement tooth to your implant. Various types of abutments exist. Frequently, standard abutment types and sizes can be used. Other times, custom abutments must be made of gold or a tooth-colored ceramic material. As you can imagine, these custom made abutments add to the cost and treatment time involved. Which abutment to use is a decision that often cannot be made until after healing is complete and impressions have been made.

The number of appointments and the amount of time required for each appointment is different for each patient. No two cases are exactly the same and regardless of the number of teeth replaced, the work must be completed with great precision and attention to detail. If you are having only a few teeth replaced, fewer appointments may be required. Between appointments, your general dentist will need time to complete the necessary lab work to make your replacement teeth. It is most beneficial that you keep all of your scheduled appointments.

If your final restoration is a removable denture, you may need several office appointments (although it may be fewer) with your general dentist over the following several months. During these appointments, they may perform a series of impressions, bites and adjustments in order to make your new teeth, as well as the custom support bars, snaps, magnets, or clips that will secure your teeth to the implants. During this period, if you choose, you can obtain comfortable, temporary replacement teeth from your general dentist.

In general, once your implant is placed, you can expect your tooth replacement treatment to be completed anywhere from 1 to 12 months. You can discuss exactly how much the restorative phase of your treatment will cost with your general dentist. Our office can only provide you with all costs related to the actual placement of the implant and any other necessary materials involved. 

How Do I Clean My New Tooth?

As with natural teeth, it is important that you clean implant-supported restorations regularly with toothbrushes, floss and any other recommended aids. You should also visit your dentist several times each year for hygiene and maintenance. As with regular dentures and other tooth replacements, your implants and their associated components are subject to wear and tear and eventually will need repair, including clip replacement, relines, screw tightening, and other adjustments.

Will One Doctor Do Everything?

Usually, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon places the implant and performs other necessary surgical procedures – your general dentist provides the temporary and permanent replacement teeth. Both doctors are involved in planning your dental treatment. Also, depending upon a variety of factors, different dental specialists may help with your dental care.

How Much Does All Of This Cost?

Before treatment begins,  Dr. Schwartz’s office will make every effort to give you an estimate of all the expenses involved in placing the implant. Your initial implant consultation appointment with Dr. Schwartz may include the diagnostic work-up, health history, x-rays, and may also include a recommendation for the fabrication of a surgical template, by your general dentist, to ensure the best possible result.

You will also meet with your general dentist to discuss and explain the charges for the abutment or support post, plus the crown, dentures, or anything else that will be placed over the implants, including temporary restorations. Periodic maintenance such as hygiene visits, tissue conditioners, denture relines and other repairs will also incur additional charges by your general dentist. Please make sure to discuss all of these restorative and maintenance costs with your general dentist, and keep in mind that the surgical estimate provided by our office does not cover any of these restorative and maintenance costs.

When different doctors are involved in your treatment, you will be charged separately for their services. You should consider your personal financial investment in each treatment option as some insurance companies provide limited or no coverage.

Each patient is unique, and it is not possible for us to discuss every option and every contingency for treatment outcome. This overview is intended to help you understand the general treatment options available to you. If your specific treatment options are not clear, please contact us. We will be happy to answer any questions you have about your dental care.

Please call our office at Daniel M. Schwartz DMD MD LLC Phone Number 216-464-1200 to make an implant consultation to discuss all you options.