Before We Begin: 3 Questions to Ask During Your Dental Implant Consultation

Dental implants are not the kind of treatment that can be completed overnight. Several steps, evaluations, and conversations need to occur to ensure everything moves along smoothly and successfully. This is why dental implant consultation is the first thing all patients must undergo when considering these prosthetics to replace any number of missing teeth. If you are preparing for this particular appointment, make sure to ask these three questions so that you feel more knowledgeable about treatment.

Question #1: What Is Your Experience with Dental Implants?

Your smile deserves the best kind of care, which is why you don’t want to trust just anyone to place your dental implants. Instead, it’s worth doing your research to make sure you are comfortable and confident in the dentist who will be performing your surgery.

When trying to decide who you will choose, it’s helpful to ask about their experience and educational background as it pertains to implant dentistry. While you can opt for an oral surgeon or prosthodontist, many dentists also undergo advanced courses that require hands-on training so they can place and restore these prosthetics.

Question #2: How Will You Know If I’m a Suitable Candidate for Dental Implants?

During your consultation, your dentist will evaluate your smile using digital imaging as well as a visual examination. Based on the information provided, they will determine your candidacy based on three distinct factors:

• Your oral health – Do you show signs of gum disease, dental decay, or infection? If so, you’ll be required to undergo additional treatment before moving forward with dental implants.
• Your overall health – Are you healthy enough to receive dental implant surgery? Do you have an autoimmune disorder or health condition that might inhibit the success of your future smile?
• Your jawbone density – Is your jawbone dense enough to support the posts that must fuse with the bone as well as the custom restoration that is placed on top?

After determining the answers to these questions, your dentist will tell you how they plan to proceed so that you can achieve the kind of smile you desire with dental implants.

Question #3: How Long Will Surgery Take?

The timeframe for surgery is dependent on how many implant posts you need. Naturally, if you only require a single titanium post, this will require much less time in the treatment chair than if you are receiving an implant denture, which can take between 4 and 6 dental implants.

It usually takes 1-2 hours for the placement of each post. However, if you want to know how long the entire start-to-finish process takes, it can range from several months to an entire year.

Don’t be afraid to go into your consultation with questions. Your dentist will be ready to provide clear and honest answers so that you can feel more prepared for the new smile that awaits you at the end of treatment.

About the Author
Dr. Aaron Springhetti earned his dental doctorate at the University of Louisville School of Dentistry and has extensive training in oral surgery. Completing courses in dental implants, bone grafting, extractions, and more, he enjoys providing his patients with a more convenient approach to tooth replacement. Instead of referring individuals to outside specialists, he offers the start-to-finish dental implant process in-house. If you’re thinking about replacing your missing teeth with these permanent prosthetics but have questions about treatment, contact us at (317) 875-7645.