So what does getting a single dental implant to replace my missing tooth entail? After determining that an implant would be an excellent restorative solution for you, we will plan out exactly where the implant will be placed using the advanced technology we have access to. We have a CBCT (3D x-ray unit), digital intraoral scanner, and a 3D printer, which we can use together to make surgical guides for fully guided surgery. We will do an evaluation of your bone amount and quality to determine if a bone graft will be required for implant placement. The surgical date will then be set for placement of the implant body. The surgery will be taken place under local anesthesia, so you will be completely comfortable throughout the entire procedure. Sometimes implants can be restored right away, but often times the bone is allowed to integrate to the dental implant through a process called “osseointegration” for approximately 4 months. We will then see you back in our office for the final scan. The scan will be sent out to the lab for fabrication of the abutment and crown. The abutment and crown can be fabricated as an all-in-one screw retained unit or two separate pieces. Dr. Hopkinson will select what is best for your particular situation. The abutment and crown are then sent back from the lab to be torqued into place/cemented.

If you have any questions about dental implants, please feel free to give us a call. Dr. Greg Hopkinson would be happy to sit down with you to discuss your options. Our team is here to serve you!