Single Tooth Implant Process | Tidewater Laser Perio and Implants

Single tooth dental implant placement process in jawbone illustration

The Surgical Procedure

The procedure to place a single dental implant can range from 45-90 minutes. If you have multiple areas where multiple dental implants will be placed, the procedure time will increase in length. During the healing phase, the number of appointments and time required, vary from patient to patient. Dr. Cavallari will bring great precision and attention to the details of your case.

Prior to surgery, you may receive antibiotics and for greater comfort, intravenous sedation. These options are discussed with you at your consultation appointment. A local anesthetic will be administered to numb the area where the dental implant will be placed.

When you are comfortable, Dr. Cavallari makes a small incision in the gum tissue to reveal the bone, creates space using special instruments, and gently inserts the titanium implant. The top of this implant is often visible through the gum. Sometimes it is better in the early stages of healing to have the implant covered by the gum tissue.

Six Atages to a Restored Smile

From tooth loss to a fully functioning implant — understand each stage of your treatment journey before you begin.

step 1

Normal

Your natural smile before any tooth loss.

step 2

Normal

Your natural smile before any tooth loss.

step 3

Healed Bone

The extraction site heals and bone stabilizes.

step 4

Implant Placed

A titanium post is surgically placed into the jawbone.

step 5

Healing

The implant fuses with the bone (osseointegration).

step 5

Implant Restored

A custom crown is attached — your smile is complete.

Healing After Dental Implant Surgery

Now the healing begins! The length of time varies from person to person, depending upon the quality and quantity of bone. In some cases, implants may be temporarily restored immediately after they are placed. Dr. Cavallari will advise you on follow-up care and timing. After the initial phase of healing, Dr. Cavallari will place a healing abutment onto the dental implant during a brief follow-up visit. This allows gum tissue to mature and provides access to the implant for your restorative Dentist.

How long your mouth needs to heal is determined by a variety of factors. Follow-up care (one to four appointments) is usually needed to ensure that your mouth is healing well and to determine when you are ready to see your general dentist for the restorative phase of your treatment.

It may be beneficial to perform a soft tissue graft to obtain stronger, more easily cleaned and natural appearing gum tissue in the area around the implant. This process involves moving a small amount of gum tissue from one part of your mouth to the area around the implant. Most often, it is a brief and relatively comfortable procedure.

Whether it’s one tooth or all of your teeth that are being replaced, your general dentist will complete the process by fitting the replacement tooth (crown) to the dental implant once it has fused with your natural bone.

When Are Dental Implants Placed?

Implants are often placed several months after extraction. At times, an implant may be placed immediately after extraction of a tooth. This may involve a little more risk, but it simplifies the process—you won’t have to wait for another appointment to place the implant. When infection or other problems with the bone are present, immediate implant placement is not the best treatment.

If your tooth has been missing for some time, the adjacent support bone is likely to grow thinner and shrink. This occurs because the root of the natural tooth has to be present to stimulate the bone. As much as one third of your jaw’s thickness can be lost in the year following tooth extraction. If you are missing enough bone, you may benefit from having additional bone grafted into the area. This ensures the implant will be adequately supported when it is placed in the jaw.

Dental Implants Presentation

To provide you with a better understanding of dental implants, we have provided the following multimedia presentation. Many common questions pertaining to dental implants are discussed.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions About Single Tooth Implant Process

The surgical procedure to place a single dental implant typically ranges from 45 to 90 minutes. If you are having multiple implants placed in different areas, the procedure time increases accordingly. The placement appointment is only one part of the overall process — the full timeline, including healing and restoration, varies from patient to patient depending on bone quality and individual healing. Dr. Cavallari brings precision and careful attention to the details of every case at Tidewater Laser Perio and Implants in Virginia Beach.

Prior to surgery, you may receive antibiotics and, for greater comfort, intravenous sedation — these options are discussed at your consultation. A local anesthetic numbs the area where the implant will be placed. Once you are comfortable, Dr. Cavallari makes a small incision in the gum tissue to reveal the bone, creates space using specialized instruments, and gently inserts the titanium implant. The top of the implant is often visible through the gum, though in some cases it is better to cover the implant with gum tissue during the early stages of healing.

The single tooth implant process follows a clear sequence. It begins with a normal, healthy tooth, then progresses through tooth loss, healing of the bone, placement of the titanium implant into the jaw, a healing period during which the bone bonds to the implant, and finally restoration — when the crown is fitted to complete the tooth. Each stage is important to the long-term success and stability of the implant.

After placement, the healing phase begins, and its length varies from person to person depending on the quality and quantity of bone. In some cases, implants may be temporarily restored immediately after placement. After the initial healing phase, Dr. Cavallari places a healing abutment onto the implant during a brief follow-up visit — this allows the gum tissue to mature and provides access to the implant for the restorative phase. Typically one to four follow-up appointments are needed to ensure proper healing before you return to your general dentist for the crown.

In some cases, yes. It may be beneficial to perform a soft tissue graft to create stronger, more easily cleaned, and more natural-appearing gum tissue around the implant. This involves moving a small amount of gum tissue from one part of your mouth to the area around the implant. It is usually a brief and relatively comfortable procedure, and it can improve both the health and the appearance of the final result.

Sometimes. Implants are often placed several months after extraction, but in certain cases an implant can be placed immediately after a tooth is removed. Immediate placement involves slightly more risk but simplifies the process — you don't have to wait for another appointment to place the implant. However, when infection or other problems with the bone are present, immediate implant placement is not the best approach. Dr. Cavallari will determine the right timing based on your specific situation.

When a tooth has been missing for some time, the surrounding support bone tends to grow thinner and shrink. This occurs because the root of the natural tooth is no longer present to stimulate the bone. As much as one-third of your jaw's thickness can be lost in the year following tooth extraction. If you are missing enough bone, you may benefit from bone grafting in the area to ensure the implant is adequately supported when placed in the jaw — which is why addressing a missing tooth sooner rather than later is often advantageous.

Most frequently, one implant is placed per missing tooth. However, because many of the larger teeth in the back of the jaws have two or three roots, the most common approach is to replace missing back teeth with larger implants designed to handle the greater chewing forces in that area. Dr. Cavallari will evaluate the location and number of missing teeth to recommend the most effective implant plan for you.

After your implant has fused with the natural bone and you have been released from Dr. Cavallari's care, your general dentist completes the process by fabricating and fitting the replacement crown to the implant. This applies whether you are replacing a single tooth or all of your teeth. This collaborative approach ensures the surgical placement and the final restoration are each handled by the appropriate specialist for the best possible outcome.