The Process of Mini Dental Implants

A Consultation 

The first step in the process of mini dental implants, like most surgical procedures, starts with a consultation. At this consultation, the dentist will examine your teeth (if applicable), gums, and bone, review your medical history and oral history and hear your story. A CT Scan will be necessary because it provides views of your bone structure, bone density, tissues, and nerves that cannot be seen on traditional dental x-rays. This image is pertinent in choosing the implant size appropriate for you based on the amount of bone that you have. This scan is also essential for the accurate, precise, and safe placement of a dental implant. Through the examination, conversation, and radiographs you and the dentist will be able to determine if you are a good candidate for mini dental implants! 

Get a Plan

Once it has been decided that mini dental implants are the best option for you, it’s time to get a plan in place! A detailed treatment plan will be drawn up based on what you and the dentist discussed would be ideal based on what you want and what you need in terms of function, confidence, cost, and your overall health! 

Part of this plan will also include a decision in regard to anesthesia. Local anesthesia will be used as part of your mini dental implant procedure to ensure you are comfortable. We also offer all forms of sedation if sedation was a route that you would like to explore. This decision will also require approval from your physician as well as any other medical professional who oversees your health in any way. 

Financial Arrangements

Now that you have a game plan, it’s time for you to work with one of our Patient Care Advocates to see how we can best help you, if necessary, to get exactly what you hoped for! Whether it be through financing, a care credit account, an outside loan, or money that you have set aside for this very purpose, our team will assist you in putting all the pieces together! 

Pre-Procedure

As soon as your treatment plan is outlined and finances are arranged, you will review and sign all required consents. At this time you will also be given all necessary prescriptions and products and will go over all post-care instructions on how to correctly care for your implants and new temporary crowns and prosthesis. 

Procedure & Post-Procedure

It’s time to put the plan into action! The procedure will begin with whatever anesthesia plan was decided upon. Once you are numb or comfortably and properly sedated, it’s time to begin! If your treatment plan requires extractions of existing teeth, if possible a blood draw will be completed to create your bone grafting material, the teeth will be extracted, your bone graft will be placed into the extraction site, along with the implant or implants that very same day! The blood draw and bone graft procedure promote faster healing and improve the success of implant integration. 

In situations where teeth were previously missing and extractions are not taking place, cases involving single implants or implant-supported bridges, a pilot hole or pilot holes are drilled and the implant or implants are placed. Final impressions are often taken the same day for your final crown or bridge. Healing caps are then placed on top of the implants and will remain in place for about one month! If single implants or an implant-supported bridge is located in the front of the mouth, temporary crowns will be placed on top of the healing caps so that you never go without having front teeth. In the back of your mouth, however, out of sight, healing caps only are just fine and you will just be instructed on how to gently keep these areas clean. 

Similarly, with an Implant Supported Denture procedure, a temporary prosthetic will be placed and you will remain in that for four months minimum but will never be without teeth! 

* Post-Op CT scans are taken after implant placement to verify placement accuracy 

Timeline for Your Final Crown or Prosthesis Placement

(specifics can vary from case to case and patient to patient) 

Single implants or Implant Supported Bridges – approximately 14 business days from final impression to crown or bridge cementation 

Implant Supported Dentures – approximately a month and a half from final impression to final prosthesis 

Roundhouse/Full Mouth Permanently Cemented Cases – approximately two months from final impressions to final cementation of Roundhouse 

Caring for Your Mini Dental Implants

Maintaining and caring for your implants is very much like caring for your natural teeth. Brushing twice a day with proper technique and an electric toothbrush, flossing daily, and incorporating a Waterpik into your daily hygiene routine are crucial to healthy teeth, implants, and gums. Staying on schedule for your routine dental cleanings and exams will be pertinent in preserving a healthy foundation for your dental implants as well as securing your implant warranty.

Taking that First Step

It is often said that a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. Anxiety and fear, embarrassment and insecurity, and sometimes just simple uncertainty can keep you from taking the first step toward something you’ve wanted so badly for so long. We are here for you. Call today to schedule your Dental Implant Consultation and let us be your guide on a personalized journey, designed just for you!