Thinking about getting dental implants in Tysons Corner, Vienna, or Mclean from the office of Dr. Priti Naik? Not sure what’s involved in the process? We are happy to provide you with an overview of dental implant treatment so you can know what to expect if you choose to get an implant from Dr. Naik.
First, you’ll need to come to our office to get an appointment with Dr. Priti Naik. She will conduct a comprehensive oral exam and take x-rays of your jaw, face, and mouth to determine if you are a good candidate for dental implants.
If you’re approved, she will begin planning your treatment based on your x-rays and scans using advanced modeling software. You’ll come back in a few weeks for your surgery
In some cases, you may need additional surgical treatment before your implant can be placed. For example, you may need a tooth extraction to remove a damaged or dead tooth, and an alveoloplasty to smooth the socket and surrounding area before the implant is placed. Or, if your jaw bone has been weakened due to tooth loss, a sinus lift or bone graft may be required to strengthen it before your implant can be placed.
If you need one or more of these preparatory surgeries, Dr. Naik will discuss them with you and schedule your appointments after your initial consultation.
Using your customized implant placement plan, Dr. Naik will place your implant into the gum and jaw bone, then suture the area shut after it’s been cleaned and disinfected. You will be sent home with a full set of recovery instructions, which you will follow to ensure your implant heals properly.
It will take 1-2 weeks to heal from the initial placement of your implant. You will come in for a consultation about a month after your surgery so that Dr. Naik can check on your recovery. The process of osseointegration, which bonds the metal implant to your jaw bone, will take 3-6 months, so you will need to wait a while before your implant restoration can be placed.
At your initial follow-up appointment, Dr. Naik will take impressions and images of your teeth and your implant. These will be sent to a dental lab, where your dental restoration will be manufactured to fit into your mouth perfectly. Depending on your case, you may need to come into our office for multiple fittings and follow-ups to ensure your restoration fits properly.
A few weeks before your final appointment, you’ll come in to have an abutment placed on your implant. This metal abutment is required to connect the implant with your implant-supported restoration, and the placement procedure is fast and minimally-invasive.
Once you have recovered from abutment placement, you will come in for your final appointment. Dr. Naik will perform a final check of your implant restoration to ensure it fits perfectly. Then, it will be bonded into place, completing the procedure and restoring your smile.
Depending on the patient and whether or not any preparatory surgeries are required, the entire implant process can take between 6-12 months. But thanks to the long-term benefits of dental implants, the wait is worth it.
If you’d like to explore dental implants and see if they’re right for you, contact the office of Priti Naik, DDS now to schedule a consultation. You can give us a call at (703) 288-1800, or stop by our office at 8230 Boone Blvd, #320, Vienna, VA 22182.