At first thought, a dental implant consultation may not seem extremely important. What is the point of talking with your specialist? Can’t you just jump right in and get started with treatment? You may initially wish to skip the consultation, but this appointment is critical for the rest of the process to have a successful outcome. What will happen during this visit to make it so important? What can you expect to experience? Keep reading to learn more.
Initial Discussion of History and Goals
At the beginning of your consultation, it might seem like your specialist for dental implants is having a casual chitchat with you, but they really want to get to know your goals, medical and dental history, and other details that are helpful for determining whether dental implants are a good choice for you. They will also ask about your medications and conditions because these can sometimes present problems with prosthetics. Of course, your dentist wants to know about what you want out of treatment and your lifestyle to make sure it’s a good fit.
Visual Examination
Before making any recommendation, your dentist must look at your mouth’s current condition. If you have gum disease or another issue, dental implants will probably not be successful. In this case, any issues will need to be addressed first. However, once your mouth has achieved full health, you and your dentist can consider moving forward with these advanced replacement teeth.
Digital Imaging
An important determining factor for dental implants is your jawbone density. Without sufficient strength and substance, your jawbone won’t be able to hold your implants in place. This support keeps your replacement teeth stable and allows you to bite and chew nearly as well as you did before loss. Your dentist identifies your jawbone density through a digital scan that not only shows your bones but also blood vessels and other structures. Should you not have enough density, a bone graft can get you in a better position for implants.
Recommendation and Discussion
Based on all this information, your dentist can then put together a treatment plan for dental implants. In addition to answering any questions you have about the steps of the procedure, they can break down a tentative timeline, estimate the cost, and start scheduling treatment. At this point, you should ask about anything that doesn’t make sense about dental implants. Don’t leave until you feel you understand and have made the best decision for you and your smile.
As the first step in the dental implant process, your consultation needs to happen and go well to make the treatment successful. Take this appointment seriously and come prepared with questions. Afterward, you can move forward with implants confidently and get excited about having a whole smile again.
About the Practice
When it comes to dental implants, EMA Dental offers specialized care you won’t find elsewhere. The team of dentists is led by a prosthodontist, who has qualifications, training, and experience with these advanced replacements. For capturing digital imaging, the team uses a CBCT scanner to create precise and successful treatment plans. To schedule your own dental implant consultation, reach out to one of the three locations in Massachusetts or visit our Contact Us page here.