Curious about how dental implant surgery works? Here’s a step-by-step look at what to expect when you get dental implants.

Step 1: Let’s Talk About Your Smile

Dr. McCormick doesn’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to dentistry, and you deserve focused, personalized attention. 

At your consultation for dental implants in Santa Rosa, CA, we’ll talk about what led to your tooth loss, how missing or failing teeth have affected your life and your confidence, and what goals you have for how dental implants may help.

During this consultation, we’ll perform a thorough oral health examination, take detailed diagnostic scans, and create a personalized treatment plan just for you. We’ll answer all your questions and explain the entire process, so you feel comfortable and informed.

Step 2: Planning Your Dental Implant Treatment

We use cutting-edge technology to plan every step of your implant treatment. Dr. McCormick will individually design each tooth in your new smile with consideration for your face shape, lip line, skin tone, and the ideal proportions your smile should have.

In some cases, you may need other procedures to prepare you for implants. That may mean tooth extractions to remove unsalvageable teeth or bone grafts to rebuild lost bone volume. We’ll go over all of this in advance so you know exactly what to expect.

Step 3: Placing Your Implant Posts

When you’re ready, you’ll rest comfortably through every phase of your dental implant surgery with the right sedation dentistry option for your needs. 

If you’re looking for a way to replace all the teeth in your mouth with implant-supported dentures or full mouth dental implants, we’ll place as few as four to six implant posts in strategic sites at exact angles to the jaw to withstand heavy chewing forces.

In some cases, we can place your dental implant posts in the same appointment when we remove damaged teeth. In others, we’ll make a small incision in the gums to access the underlying bone and place your implant post.

We may place a lightweight restoration right away, or cover the post while you heal.

Step 4: Healing and Final Scans

Over the next few months, your implant posts will fuse to the bone tissue in a process called osseointegration. This is what gives implants their unbeatable strength and longevity.

While you may feel sore for a day or two after your procedure, most people find dental implant placement much more comfortable than tooth extractions. For the most part, your healing process will be painless.

Once your implants have healed, you’ll return to your implant dentist to have them tested so we can be sure they’re as strong as possible. Then we’ll update your scans and finalize your restorations.

Step 5: Celebrate Your New Smile for Life!

The final step in your process is connecting your final restorations to the abutments. You’ll be able to walk out of our office confident in your gorgeous smile!

You’ll be able to eat normally, speak clearly, and feel great sharing your smile with the world. We’ll also get you set up with regular appointments to monitor your oral health and protect your implants so you can love your smile for life.