Dental Implants in Littleton, CO
There are times where it is recommended that the best course of action for you to take is to have an unhealthy tooth extracted. Many patients are understandably fearful of losing a tooth and the future of their overall oral health, teeth, and smile. The best option for tooth replacement is a dental implant. Dental implants have the same appearance and function as a natural tooth and are important in maintaining the correct anatomical alignment of your teeth.
Dental implants are made of commercially pure titanium. When placed into the jaw, they fuse with the existing bone through a process known as osseointegration. After the healing process is complete, a crown, bridge, fixed or removable denture will be attached to the implant(s).
The Dental Implant Process
The first step in this process is meeting with Dr. McLain for a consultation to determine if a dental implant is the best choice for you. At this appointment, we will take a CBCT (Cone Beam Computed Tomography scan) to assess bone levels in the jaw bone, review health history, and determine a treatment plan that is specifically tailored to what you and your referring dentist would like to achieve.
Once we have determined the best treatment plan for you, we are able to schedule the procedure. During this appointment, the implant will be placed and, if needed, bone graft will be added to return the jaw to a normal contour. After the initial surgical appointment, we will schedule you to see us in several months for the uncovering procedure. During this procedure, which normally lasts about 30 minutes for a single implant, Dr. McLain will make sure the implant has achieved healthy integration to the bone and attach a healing abutment. The healing abutment is what will help the gum tissue form the appropriate contour and be used by your general dentist to help determine the proper measurements for a crown, bridge or denture to be fabricated. Once the restoration process is complete, you may begin functioning with your new dental implant immediately. You will, once again, be able to eat what you want instead of only eating what you can.