Dental Implants – Encinitas, CA

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

Ahead of the actual implant surgery, you’ll first consult Dr. McElroy. This visit will help him learn your smile goals, dental history, and health background. From there, he can determine whether you’re a good implant candidate.

Even if you aren’t a good candidate (at first), there’s no need to worry. We’ll happily work with you on preliminary services – bone grafts, tooth extractions, etc. That way, your mouth will be strong enough to handle implants.

Should Dr. McElroy approve treatment, the consult will also outline treatment details. These latter facts will include your procedure’s timeline, cost, etc.

Dental Implant Surgery

Again, our office places implants in-house. We won’t refer you to outside specialists located far away. Therefore, you don’t have to travel out of your way for the procedure. You can trust our team to manage things and restore your full grin.

Overall, the surgery will involve the following:

• Anesthesia – Prior to placement, we’ll numb your mouth with an anesthetic. Doing so ensures you won’t feel pain from surgery. Instead, the most you’ll sense is slight pressure as the procedure progresses.
• A Minor Incision – Once the treatment site is numbed, we’ll make a small incision in your gums. This cut will create space for your future implant(s).
• Implant Placement – After the incision, we’ll place your implant in the proper jaw socket. To do so, the whole team will rely on advanced methods and tools.
• Gum Closure – Your gum incision will be closed following the placement. Afterward, our team will put a small cap over the implant post.

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment

When the surgery ends, your implant will slowly begin to fuse with your jawbone. This process – also known as osseointegration – takes roughly six months. Once it wraps up, your implant will remain as secure as your other teeth.

After the implant fusion, you’ll undergo surgery that places your abutment. (The latter is a connector that holds your implant’s tooth-like portion.) Your final restoration (based on prior impressions) will be crafted as you adjust to the abutment.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restoration(s)

For the final phase of implant treatment, you’ll receive your implant’s final restoration. This prosthetic is usually a crown, bridge, or denture. (The type will depend on how many teeth you’ve lost.)

Overall, fitting this restoration doesn’t take very long. Dr. McElroy will just apply some dental cement and make sure everything is in order. You can then go ahead and enjoy your full, restored smile!

Make Oral Hygiene a Priority

As you might know, implants don’t get cavities. (They use artificial materials instead of enamel.) That said, you still need to clean them daily. You’ll face long-term oral health issues otherwise.

Remember, implants depend on a healthy mouth to work. That means nearby oral issues can destabilize them. For example, gum disease might make your gums recede and loosen an implant. The condition could also erode the bone tissue that supports your restoration.

Of course, good oral hygiene can prevent these outcomes. It’s simply a matter of brushing twice daily, flossing once daily, and rinsing with mouthwash often.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Implants usually let you eat as you want. Even so, they do have their limits. They work better and longer under a mouth-healthy diet.

 

You see, some foods put implants at risk. Hard kinds – pretzels, chips, etc. – can result in chips. On the other hand, sticky and sugary stuff tends to wedge between the prosthetics. They then get a chance to decay nearby teeth. Should the latter happen, you might suffer issues that trigger implant failure.

 

Luckily, other foods with mouth-healthy nutrients let implants endure. Items rich in calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin C are especially good. These prevent gum disease and strengthen your jaw.

Break Bad Habits

Bad oral habits are pretty dangerous to implants. Left unchecked, they can easily cause the prosthetics to break or fail. That being the case, you should quit such practices before and after treatment.

 

For example, give up smoking. Tobacco products slow your recovery from implant surgery. It also prompts gum disease – an issue that results in implant failure. To prevent these effects, then, stop the habit at least two weeks before implant placement.

 

You should also quit chewing on hard objects. Whether it’s a fingernail, ice cube, or pencil, biting such a thing can chip your implants.

Protect Your Dental Implants

Implants can withstand a lot, but they aren’t indestructible. They can (and will) get damaged if put under enough force. As such, always protect them with good dental tools.

In particular, wear an oral appliance in certain settings. A sports mouthguard would defend your restoration from physical injuries. Alternatively, using a nightguard while asleep would prevent wear and tear from bruxism.

Schedule Regular Dental Checkups

Even if you’re cautious, you can’t care for implants alone. You’ll inevitably miss or overlook some issues. Therefore, attend dental checkups often. These visits with a dentist offer great protection.

If you didn’t already know, checkups are the best form of preventive dental care. They stop implant threats before they can take root. That much is natural, as they assess your mouth and treat minor issues early. From there, your implants are kept very safe.