Dental Implant Exam & Consultation

If you’ve never had dental implants before, it may seem a little intimidating, however, I’m here to set the record straight and give you a comprehensive overview of the process in order to demystify it a little bit. Many people avoid going to the doctor, dentist, or the like because they’re afraid of the painful and taxiing procedures that take time out of their day and result in hefty medical bills. However, when it comes to dental health, you can’t afford to waste any time! If you have missing teeth or are currently using dentures, dental implants could be the best thing you do for yourself. If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of dental implants and when you should go see a periodontist, read our last blog titled, “Are Dental Implants Right For You?”

Without further ado, here is the dental implant procedure process broken down for you:

Exam & Consultation

Every dental procedure begins with a comprehensive exam and consultation. At Pacific Northwest Specialists in Periodontics and Dental Implants, Dr. Rapoport and Dr. Schuler are committed to providing you with the highest quality treatment in a comforting and friendly atmosphere. One of our award-winning periodontists will begin by getting to know you and your medical history. This will assists us in making educated decisions about what procedure will be best for you.

 

After learning about your background, our specialists will ask you about the current issue you’re facing, whether it’s missing or unstable teeth, loose dentures, or anything else. It’s important for us to completely understand your issue and any goals that you have moving forward so we can provide you with a procedure that’s right for you. We don’t just want a quick fix; we want you to have a long-term solution for your dental needs.

Exams

Exams are one of the most important aspects of any dental procedure. We don’t want to waste your time performing any exam that won’t provide us with key information about your condition and show us how we can help. Read below to learn more about our exams:

Comprehensive Digital X-rays

X-rays are essential for understanding the structure and condition of your jaw and teeth. Our digital X-rays emit very low radiation and images are produced quickly so that Dr. Rapoport or Dr. Schuler are able to start forming a detailed analysis immediately.

Digital Photos

Another helpful tool we use are intraoral and extraoral photographs. Where X-rays give us a good idea of what’s going on underneath the gums and in the jawbone, digital photographs will help us understand what’s going on on the outside.

 

Cone Beam 3D CT Scan  

The Cone Beam 3D Ct Scan, although not always needed, will give our doctors a more detailed look at your jawbone and teeth from all angles. This examination procedure helps doctors determine if bone grafting will be necessary before getting your implants.

Oral examination

In addition to using these devices to examine your mouth, a periodontal specialist will perform an oral exam in order to screen for oral cancer; better understand your bite and how that could be impacted by implants, and thoroughly assess the health of your teeth and gums.

 

 

After the initial consultation and a thorough examination, our doctors will understand everything they need to recommend a procedure, whether it’s  Same-Day Tooth Replacement, All-on-4® New Teeth in One Day, or any other solution that will improve your oral health and afford you the strong and aesthetically pleasing teeth that you deserve.

 

In addition to all of this, our doctors are always willing to answer any questions you may have along the way. We want you to feel comfortable and welcome in our office so that you don’t have to feel afraid to seek the help you need.  

Don’t hesitate to call Pacific Northwest Specialists in Periodontics and Dental Implants. It’s our highest priority to provide you with the highest quality medical care while maintaining a comforting atmosphere so that you never have to be afraid to get the help you need. Getting the right implants for your condition is essential for having a happy and healthy smile, while regaining the functionality that you once had with your natural teeth.

Dental Implants and Dentures – Understanding the Two

If you’ve struggled with your teeth, or the lack thereof, for years – then there’s a pretty good chance that dental implants aren’t the first procedure that you’ve invested some time into. For many, especially those missing more than one tooth, dentures and partial dentures were the first solutions that were tried.

Now, after having dentures for so long and seeing the possibilities and capabilities that dental implants offer, it’s very common for people to ask what the options are regarding having dentures and considering dental implants. Today our blog is going to dive into some of the questions that are often asked of individuals who have had dentures for periods of time, and are interested in learning more about dental implants. Let’s dive right in!

Do you have to use one or the other?

Dentures used to be the only dental care solution for missing teeth, and then they were used as the sole solution. Now, there are so many people curious as to whether their only options include sticking with dentures or switching to dental implants but very rarely do they ask. In fact, there are very few people who even consider the possibility of using their dentures, or partial dentures, with dental implants.

The answer to this question is a yes. You can, in fact, use both full sets of dentures and partial dentures with your dental implants. This combination has the potential to be one of the best setups for certain dental circumstances.

Mostly, the way that this partnership works is that you will have the permanent implants that will go directly into the gums. Once this has been put in, you can use your full or partial dentures and just click them right into the root implants. This is a great way to enjoy more stability as well as a more natural feel with your dentures. Given that durability and a natural feel is something that most people struggle with regarding dentures, this is a fantastic option for making the most of both procedures.

Can you remove dental implants like dentures?

This is a fantastic question, especially when trying to determine if there’s one procedure that works better for you than the other. One of the primary ways that these two procedures differ is the tied directly to this question.

Dentures offer the ability to remove them when needed while dental implants are a much more permanent option. Depending on which of these are going to be a better fit for you and your goals with the procedure, it’ll be pretty easy for you to determine which of these procedures is going to be a better fit for you and your needs. If you’re not entirely sure which of the methods is going to be better for you – or if there is an option that will work better for your dental circumstances – you can always reach out to the team at Same Day Dental Implants, and we’ll help you find the answer to that question.

When you’ve become accustomed to one dental solution, the idea of changing can seem ridiculous. If you have any questions about switching from dentures to dental implants, or if you’re interested in learning more about what the capabilities are with the implants and your dentures, we will always be there to help.

Check out the rest of our blog space for additional posts that cover questions we are frequently asked. You can also schedule an appointment, and we can sit down and walk through your concerns and questions with you.

Dental Procedure Process – What to Expect

One of the main benefits of working with Pacific Northwest Specialist in Periodontics and Dental Implants is the fact that we offer same day dental implants. A treatment that can change the way that you’re living your life, and it can be done the same day that you come in. Unlike other dental procedures that require you to get moldings done, take time off of your daily life to rest and recover, or are incredibly intensive, we can get the job done in the same day!

When you reach out to us, we will always schedule a consultation so that you can get a crystal clear idea of what the process will look like and analyze your dental circumstances individually. While this is something that you’ll get before your treatment, we want to ensure that you also get a good idea of what to expect before your procedure, so we’re going to walk you through the steps of the dental implant procedure in today’s blog post.

Analyzation of Gums

The first thing that is going to happen is an analyzation of the space that you’re going to need dental implants put in. We’ll need to analyze whether or not your gums are prepared for the dental implants as they are, or is there a tooth that’s going to need removing before we can start the procedure?

At this point, we will also get an idea of how much time the procedure is going to take. The number of implants that you need to have us place in your mouth will determine the amount of time, as well as any additional tasks that that will need to be done to make this process as easy as possible for you. Again, most of this is going to depend on your mouth and dental circumstances specifically.

Once we’ve got this taken care of, we’ll move onto the next steps where we actually start to place your dental implants.

Root Implant Inserted

Implants are put into your mouth in a way that gives them the support that they need to feel natural, which is where this next step comes in. The root implant is how implants can stay in place while having a strong core. At this point, your jaw and gums will be worked on in surgery so that the insert can be put into your gums.

At times, this can require a bone graft in advance, and this is one of the things that we’ll talk to you about when you come in for your consultation. During that surgery, we will prepare your gums for the inserts that will hold your dental implants in place. After your gums have been ready for the operation, we will insert the metal rods into the holes. Your gums will heal around these rods so that they hold them just as if they were your natural born teeth.

Fusion of Root With Bone

Arguably one of the most critical steps is the step where we fusion the root and the bone. As we’ve said many times before, this procedure has been so simplified because of how natural and stable the bite is. For that to be the case, the fusion of the of the root of the implant, and the bone in your jaw needs to happen.

This step of the procedure might sound like it’s scary or would hurt, but it’s not nearly as bad as it may seem. Once we’ve got your jaw set for the surgery, the rest of the process will go extremely quick. At this point, you will start to get an idea of how fast the procedure is, but how life changing it will be once you’ve got the molds on. Now that we’ve talked about the root of the implant let’s talk about the crown that will be attached.

Impression Made

For your dental implants to fit perfectly, we need to have an impression made so that the crown fits your mouth perfectly. This process is pretty standardized to any other molding. We’ll use a soft material to get the shape and grooves of your mouth perfectly. In doing so, we can create an incredibly natural crown.

We’ll do this for each of the teeth that you are going to have crowns made for, and we’ll do it all at the same time so that it doesn’t take any longer to get more than one crown made. By having a crown made that fits perfectly with the rest of your teeth, we’re able to provide the most natural smile for you. It will fit perfectly in between the surrounding teeth and have the same grooves and look like your other teeth. This is the only procedure that is going to give you a solution that fits in with the rest of your teeth.

Crown Attached

After all of these steps, we’re almost done with the dental implant procedure. Once the molding has been made, we’re ready to get the crowns put in and send you on your way. This part of the procedure is pretty simple and straightforward. We’ve spent time preparing your mouth to hold the crowns, and the crowns have been created to fit your mouth perfectly, so the last step is to get those crowns on to root that we’ve put in there.

This portion of the process is very simple and doesn’t cause much pain. When we’ve got all of the crowns put in, you may notice that your mouth is a little bit sore, and that’s to be expected with how much work will have been done in a short period. Giving your mouth some time to rest after the procedure, and slowly working your way up in solidity of foods, is the best thing that you can do once your implants have been put in.

The procedure may seem much more daunting than some of the others that claim to provide you with a natural look and bite, but the reality is that this is a same-day procedure, and beyond that, it’s the procedure that will always provide the results that you want.

The team at Pacific Northwest has been working with same day dental implants for years. If you’re ready to change your smile or you’re merely just interested in learning more about the dental implant process, give us a call, and we would be more than happy to help. If you’re interested in learning more about the process, browse our blog space. We are always doing our best to provide our clients with the answers they need and posts that offer guidance.

Contact our team today to get your appointment scheduled.

Our Comfort & Sedation Options

Hello, and welcome back to our blog! In our last post, we talked about sedation dentistry, what it is, and how medical specialists will administer it. In this blog, we’re going to talk a little bit about Same Day Implants and our specific procedures for allowing our patients to be comfortable, eliminate anxiety about going to the dentist, and ensure the procedure goes as smoothly as possible.

Dental anxiety or dental phobia can be a significant problem in many peoples’ lives. Although everyone is susceptible to dental emergencies in their lives, not everyone will be as eager to seek care for them. Some people may not go to the dentist in order to avoid painful procedures or long recovery times. However, at Same Day Implants, we take advantage of the most up-to-date technology to ensure that you have a comfortable and seamless visit every time. Read on to find out more about the specific comfort and sedation procedures we offer for our tooth replacement patients in Seattle.

Friendly Staff  

Being comfortable at the dentist’s office starts with having a friendly staff that is there for your every need. Our doctors and staff are dedicated to keeping you as comfortable as possible through all steps of your treatment. From the moment you walk in the door, we will work with you and understand exactly what you need to make your visit as seamless as possible, as well as implement the latest technology into your procedure to keep you comfortable.

Minimally Invasive

Each dental procedure begins with a plan, custom fit for your situation that will be minimally invasive. What this means is, your medical procedure will be optimized in order to avoid causing any other issues resulting in minimal recovery time and discomfort. Procedures are non-traumatic and extractions won’t cause damage to the surrounding tissue. Bruising and swelling is are reduced, and you won’t have to wait weeks or months to start feeling normal again.

Computer-Guided Placement

Using state-of-the-art computers and programs, our doctors will load 3D images into our special implant planning software in order to complete your procedure with precision and ease. Not only will this make your procedure safer and limit the risk of human error, but it will make it quicker and is what makes same-day implants possible.

DentalVibe®

DentalVibe is an advanced device that sends vibrations through your gums near the sight of injection. This vibration will block sensation and make injections virtually painless for the patient.

Sedation

Sedation is another important part of making our patients feel comfortable before and during their procedure. If a patient has high anxiety or we’re doing a longer procedure, we will use general anesthesia if necessary.

Nitrous Oxide

More commonly known as “laughing gas,” when inhaled, will cause you to relax without being unconscious. This is a light form of sedation that is commonly used for cleaning.

Conscious Sedation

With conscious sedation, you will receive a pill that will keep you in a “twilight sleep” allowing you to communicate and be conscious while allowing you to relax.

Intravenous Sedation

IV sedation is a form of sedation sent directly to the bloodstream. This allows for a more controlled state of consciousness that can be altered depending on each patient’s needs. We have a certified anesthesiologist who regulates this through each procedure.

General Anesthesia

Although general anesthesia is used far less frequently than our other sedation options, it is an option for some patients. Because this process will render you completely unconscious, you will not feel any pain. However, a certified anesthesiologist will need to monitor vital signs throughout the entire procedure.

Same Day Implants strives to offer each patient with the most high-quality dental care in the industry and we believe that starts with your comfort and safety. With each visit to our office, you will first and foremost, be introduced to our friendly staff who will sit down with you and determine exactly what sedation treatment will be best for you and your procedure. We will make use of the latest innovations in sedation dentistry, as well as advanced computer software that will make your procedure minimally invasive and non-traumatic to the surrounding tissue. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.

How Dental Sedation Works

Many people experience serious anxiety about going to see the dentist because they fear that there may be a serious issue with their oral health. Often times, these people will associate their health condition with a painful medical procedure that could lead to long recovery times. Although this fear is well placed, modern sedation procedures allow a medical specialist to perform these procedures with minimal discomfort to the patient. In this blog, we’re going to discuss the different types of sedation dentistry and why you shouldn’t be afraid to visit a doctor when you need help.

What is sedation dentistry?

Sedation refers to a wide range of processes used to calm a patient before a medical procedure begins. Chances are, the term, “laughing gas” may come to mind. Although laughing gas (or nitrous-oxide) is commonly used to sedate patients who are getting root canals or crowns, sedation dentistry is a little more complex than that, and can vary depending on a patient’s needs, as well as the procedure that is being performed.

Contrary to what some may believe, dental sedation doesn’t have to do with the pain management your dentist will provide for you. Dental sedation has more to do with calming the patient and reducing the anxiety that comes with a visit to the dentist’s office.

Types of sedation

Laughing Gas (Nitrous Oxide)

Laughing gas is used to relax a patient and make a medical procedure easier for both the patient and the medical specialist. Since it’s a gas, if you stop breathing it, the effects will wear off rather quickly. When you receive this form of sedation, it will be administered through a nose apparatus through which you inhale the gas. Depending on the patient, this may be the only form of sedation they will need.

Conscious Sedation

Conscious sedation, or “oral sedation” involves taking a small dose of sedative before the procedure. Your dentist will prescribe the dosage and tell you when to take them. Usually, one pill will be taken the night before and the other right before the procedure. Like with laughing gas, you’ll be awake but a lot more relaxed.

Dentists use advanced techniques for monitoring your heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing during the procedure in order to apply sedation techniques appropriately and provide you with the care you need to stay comfortable.

Intravenous Sedation

IV sedation can come in one of two forms: “Twilight” is when you’re conscious, but not fully aware of your surroundings, while with general anesthesia, you’ll be completely unconscious. Although this is relatively uncommon for dental procedures, it may be advised for certain patients depending on their needs.

Consult with your dentist

Most dentists offer varying options for sedation and will consult with you to determine what would be best for the procedure. Although there is no standardized sedation technique, dentists will often have their own ways of calming patients and making their procedures go as smoothly as possible.

Contact Same Day Implants today to learn about our sedation options for tooth replacement in Seattle.