Overview of Implant Placement

The Surgical Procedure

The number of appointments and time required vary from patient to patient. Dr. Cutler will bring great precision and attention to the details of your case.

A local anesthetic will be administered to numb the area where the implant will be placed. When you are comfortable, a small incision is made in the gum tissue to reveal the bone, a space is created using special instruments, and the titanium implant is gently inserted. The top of this implant is often visible through the gum.

The Healing Phase

Now the healing begins. The length of time varies from person to person, depending upon the quality and quantity of bone. Dr. Cutler will advise you on follow-up care and timing. After the initial phase of healing, Dr. Cutler places an abutment (support post) or a healing cap onto the implant during a brief follow-up visit. This allows gum tissue to mature and provides access to the implant. Whether it’s one tooth or all of your teeth that are being replaced, your dentist will complete the restoration by fitting the replacement tooth (crown) to the dental implant. 

How Many Implants Do I Need?

Most frequently, one implant per missing tooth is placed. Because many of the larger teeth in the back of your jaws have two or three roots, the most common approach is to replace missing back teeth with larger implants.

Normal Mouth
1. Normal
After Tooth Loss
2. Tooth Loss
Healed Bone, after bone grafting
3. Healed Bone
Dental Implant Placed
4. Implant Placed
Healing after dental implant placement
5. Healing
Dental Implant Restored
6. Implant Restored