5 Things You Can Expect During a Dental Implant Consultation

Considered the gold standard for restoring lost teeth, dental implants are able to replace your natural pearly whites in terms of look, feel, and functionality. However, if you’re curious about receiving dental implants yourself, you might have some questions about the initial consultation. Here are five things that you can expect to happen during this visit so that you can go into the dental implant process feeling confident and excited!

1. Meeting the Team

The very first thing you can expect upon arriving for your dental implant consultation is to meet your dentist and their team. They’re the ones who will be guiding you throughout the dental implant process, so don’t hesitate to chat and get to know them a little bit, as feeling comfortable and familiar with them will only ensure a smoother treatment process. They’ll probably also provide some sort of genuine introduction to make you feel more at ease.

2. Preliminary Conversation

You’ll likely have quite a few questions and concerns on your mind, and you’ll certainly have the chance to talk with your dentist about more relevant matters, such as your smile goals, oral habits, and eligibility for dental implants. Your dentist will need to review your medical records and history, past impressions, X-rays, and any other related materials that inform them about your smile.

3. Thorough Oral Evaluation

As great as dental implants are, they’re not for everyone—at least not immediately! Your dentist will have to perform a thorough inspection of your mouth to ensure that it’s capable of integrating implants. This typically includes X-rays and 3D digital imaging, as your jawbone, soft tissues, and other oral structures can’t be accurately assessed with just the naked eye.

4. Discussing Your Treatment Plan

If your mouth is deemed suitable for dental implants, your dentist will begin to review your treatment plan with you. They’ll cover things like:

• The estimated timeline for the entire process, including the healing period.
• Any necessary additional procedures or appointments (some patients need a supplemental bone graft or gum disease therapy before receiving implants.
• How many implants are needed, where they’re needed, and how they’ll be placed.
• Local anesthesia and sedation options.
• Post-surgery expectations and guidelines.

5. Wrapping Up

If you have any remaining questions at the end of your consultation, you’ll have the opportunity to ask your dentist before you leave. As a patient, you have the right to know exactly what your dentist will be doing, so speak up and put any doubts you have to rest! It’s also worth asking your dentist to share before/after photos of patients who’ve received implants. These photos can often be inspiring, but also very telling of a dentist’s work. Not to mention, most dentists are thrilled to show off their smile galleries!

Your dental implant consultation is the first step towards replacing those lost teeth and restoring your smile to its former glory, so don’t hesitate to speak with your dentist to get the ball rolling!

About the Author

Dr. Franco Cordini received his dental doctorate from the Creighton University School of Dentistry and has proudly served patients in the Louisville area for several years. His practice is pleased to offer a wide range of services including tooth restoration options like dental implants. If you have any questions about dental implants or would like to schedule a visit, feel free to contact the practice online or over the phone for assistance: (502) 425-5010.