Your Implant Journey
1. Consultation & Treatment Planning
Our first priority is understanding you—not just your teeth, but your overall health, lifestyle, and goals. That’s why your journey begins with a thorough consultation and detailed clinical assessment, particularly if you are considering options like dental implant placement, full arch restorations, or implant dentures. These initial appointments typically last 45 minutes to an hour and include high-quality photographs of your mouth, and if needed, digital scans, x-rays, or a 3D CBCT scan to gain a complete picture of your oral health.
Before we begin any examination, we’ll take time to speak with you, learning about your occupation, any relevant medical history, and what you hope to achieve with your dental care, whether that includes implant dentures or other solutions. Then, we carry out a full clinical evaluation, including a screening for oral cancer, an assessment of your bite, and an examination of your gums and soft tissues.
For more complex cases, especially those involving dental implant placement or full arch restorations, we may take extra time to review your records with our Multidisciplinary Team to ensure we offer the most accurate diagnosis and the most effective treatment options. We believe in thoughtful, thorough planning, not rushed decisions.
Once all assessments are complete, we’ll provide you with a tailored treatment plan outlining the steps, costs, and relevant information necessary to achieve your dental goals.
2. Dental Implant Placement
We understand that the thought of undergoing dental implant placement can be daunting, which is why our aim is to make the entire experience as smooth and reassuring as possible. When it’s time for your dental implant placement, our skilled team will prioritize your comfort by utilizing local anaesthetic, and if necessary, we can also offer sedation to ensure you feel completely at ease.
The duration of the procedure can vary based on the complexity of your case, ranging from as little as 60 minutes to several hours. In some cases, additional procedures such as bone grafting may be required. When that occurs, we often utilize bone substitute materials to minimize any discomfort. The process typically involves stitches, and you might experience some mild pain, swelling, or discomfort afterward, which is completely normal.
You will receive detailed pre- and post-treatment instructions, as well as any necessary medications to aid in your recovery. Our team diligently monitors patient outcomes and feedback, and we take pride in the fact that most patients report a very positive experience following their implant placement, including those receiving full arch restorations or implant dentures.
To ensure a smooth recovery, we’ll follow up with a call the day after your procedure. Our support doesn’t end with the procedure; we’re here for you every step of the way.
3. Review Appointments
As part of your dental implant placement journey, periodic review appointments are essential to ensure everything is healing properly and progressing as expected. These check-ins may be short, but they play a vital role in the success of your treatment, especially when it comes to full arch restorations and implant dentures.
During each review, we’ll assess your healing, monitor the implant site, and address any concerns you might have. We also typically schedule a suture removal appointment, a step we prefer to manage ourselves to ensure optimal healing and comfort.
While these visits may seem brief, that’s often a good sign—it means everything is on track. Our goal is to give you reassurance and peace of mind that your recovery from dental implant placement is progressing smoothly.
These appointments are a key part of your treatment plan, allowing us to catch any potential issues early and make sure your smile is on the right path to long-term success with full arch restorations and implant dentures.
4. The Healing Period
Following the placement of dental implants or any related surgical procedure, such as full arch restorations or implant dentures, it’s important to give your body the time it needs to heal naturally. This healing phase typically lasts between 6 to 12 weeks, though the exact duration can vary based on individual factors.
We’ll always be transparent with you about how long healing might take and what to expect during this period. While it’s natural to want to move forward quickly, our priority is ensuring your long-term success by allowing everything to fully settle before progressing to the next stage of treatment.
Should you experience any discomfort or have questions during the healing process, our team is just a phone call or email away. We’re here to support you and address any concerns promptly, ensuring a smooth and confident recovery.
5. The Restoration Phase
Once your healing is complete and the surgical stage of your dental implant placement journey is behind you, we move into the restoration phase where your new smile truly begins to take shape. This stage is meticulous and carefully planned to ensure your final result is both long-lasting and beautifully functional.
We begin with an exposure appointment, during which we gently uncover the implants beneath the gum using a minor procedure with local anaesthetic. The cover on each implant is removed and replaced with a small healing cap, allowing the gums to shape naturally around the site.
After a short healing period of one to two weeks, we take detailed impressions or digital intraoral scans to start designing your final restorations, whether that’s a single crown, bridge, or full arch restorations. In some cases, we can move straight to the final fitting, but more often, a try-in appointment is arranged. This step allows us and you to ensure everything from fit to aesthetics is just right before final placement.
This stage is especially important if we plan to guarantee your implants and restorations for the long term, such as with implant dentures. That’s why we take great care to perfect every detail, working closely with you to ensure comfort, confidence, and satisfaction with your new smile.
6. Maintenance
Effective maintenance is essential to the long-term success of any advanced dental treatment, especially dental implant placement. That’s why we prioritize oral hygiene from the very beginning of your journey with us. Before any implant treatment begins, all patients meet with our expert hygiene team to ensure their mouth is in optimal condition and that they’re fully prepared to maintain excellent oral health throughout the process, particularly for full arch restorations and implant dentures.
During your initial hygiene visit, we’ll assess your current oral condition and identify any areas that need improvement before proceeding. You’ll also receive clear guidance on how to maintain your oral hygiene both during and after treatment, tailored specifically to your needs.
Post-treatment care plays a vital role in protecting your dental implants. Our highly trained hygienists will provide thorough hour-long maintenance appointments, carefully cleaning around the implants and monitoring for any early signs of complications. This proactive care significantly reduces the risk of issues such as peri-implant disease, and our long-term data shows that regular maintenance greatly contributes to the health and longevity of implants.