Dr. Sahil Goyal provides patients with quality dental implants in his Columbia, MD dentist office. Dr. Goyal is passionate about helping patients restore their smiles safely and comfortably. Teeth implants are not a routine procedure and offer a high success rate. They can replace any number of missing teeth including a whole mouth.
The dental implant process, from your initial evaluation to securing your final restoration, takes from five to eight months. However, this process may take longer if you require a tooth extraction, gum disease treatment, or bone grafting before receiving one or more implants. The time it takes you to heal from these treatments will extend your time frame. Learn more about the ins and outs of the dental implant process below.
The Dental Implant Process
Planning and Evaluation
The first step of the implant process involves evaluation and planning. Dr. Goyal will evaluate your medical history, teeth, gums, bone structure, and your oral health to see if implants are right for you. He will create a model of your teeth and bite so that he can map out the placement of your implants. Dr. Goyal will explain your specific treatment plan to you so you can understand and feel comfortable with each step.
The Implant Procedure
The next step in the implantation process is the actual implantation procedure. Dr. Goyal will surgically place your implants into the jaw bone. This procedure can take anywhere from one to several hours depending on how many teeth he is inserting. Implants are made of titanium posts that fuse to the jaw bone. It will take anywhere from 3 to 6 months for the bone and implants to properly fuse together. The types and sizes of implants that Dr. Goyal uses are based on the number of implants you require as well as their location. Dr. Goyal will place a healing abutment to the posts or a temporary dental restoration during the healing period.
Receiving a New Dental Prosthesis
In the last step of the dental implant process, Dr. Goyal will take impressions and measurements for the fabrication of your new dental restoration. Depending on how many teeth you are missing, it could be a dental crown, dental bridge, or denture. Once that is made, he will connect the final prosthesis to the healed posts and abutments.
Caring for Your New Implants
Once your new teeth are in place, it is important to care for your oral health properly. Also, depending on the type of restoration you receive, you may need to take extra steps in your daily oral hygiene routine to care for and maintain it. If you receive a dental bridge, you must floss underneath it every day to make sure no food is stuck there. Snap-on dentures should be taken out daily and cleaned. An implant-secured crown can simply be treated like a natural tooth. You simply floss around it and brush it every day. We will supply you with any special care instructions.
To learn more about our dental implants, visit: