Supplemental Procedures For Dental Implants

You have probably just reviewed our page about the dental implant placement process. We congratulate you on continuing to learn about supplemental procedures. Part of safely and correctly placing your implants is ensuring that you have the best possible chance for dental implant success. By understanding any potential issues completely before we begin your oral surgery, we can better plan for the amazing results you are sure to gain from your treatment.

Planning For Your Dental Implant Treatment

Planning for your procedure is nearly as important as the procedure itself. Here are the typical steps involved in planning for your dental implant treatment:

1. A preliminary appointment will be scheduled with your dental provider who will recommend a tooth replacement procedure like dental implants.
   Periodontal treatment or root canal therapy will be provided so that patients have this condition well under control before oral surgery.
2. We will need to address your health history in detail. During this step, it is important to talk to your doctor about any health concerns now or in the future, as well as any medications that you may be taking. Medications may interact with anesthesia or antibiotics prescribed after your procedure, so be sure to keep your doctor informed.
3. Once oral health is sufficient, the jawbone, soft tissue, and teeth will need to be examined using digital images.This diagnostic technology allows your provider to see where your implants should be placed.
4. If your jawbone or gum tissues are not adequate to provide a stable foundation for dental implants, patients will need bone grafting or augmentation before implants can be placed.
5. Once we have properly examined your mouth, the last step is to design your new smile. Based on your health, our doctors will be able to determine which teeth will need to be replaced, as well as what the best restoration method is to provide the best possible appearance and function.

Gum Tissue Augmentation For Receding Gums

As discussed above, some patients are not immediately prepared for dental implant placement. One of the reasons that could prevent immediate placement is gum recession. If this is an issue for you, a small graft of tissue will be harvested from your palate using a small incision. The procedure can be done at the same time as the dental implant placement or before your tooth replacement procedure. The specially harvested graft material will then be placed in the prepared area.

Once healed, the soft tissues in the area will be preserved and the gum tissues will be less likely to recede after oral surgery. Once completely healed from this procedure, you can be re-evaluated for dental implant candidacy.

Bone Grafting For Poor Jawbone Density

When patients are missing teeth, the jawbone often begins to deteriorate over time. If the jawbone tissues have deteriorated past a certain point, your mouth will be unable to support your implants without a procedure like bone grafting. Bone grafting is a simple in-office procedure that takes a synthetic or donated bone sample and attaches it to the deficient areas of your jawbone. The new bone then integrates with the existing bone tissue. After a period of sufficient healing, your jawbone will be better able to support the dental implant root.

Schedule A No-Obligation Consultation Today

Understanding supplemental procedures is a critical step in planning your dental implant placement procedure. The next step is checking out our Dental Implants InfoSite page on Choosing a Dental Implant Provider. Then, when you are ready to get started, contact our Atlantic County, NJ office and schedule a no-obligation consultation with one of our dental implant doctors.