At your first visit, your oral surgeon will take a CBCT scan and X-rays of your mouth.
Dental implants require sufficient jawbone strength and density to support the implant. If your bone isn’t strong enough, there are two options that can still make dental implants possible.
The Agoura Hills Oral Surgery team can perform a bone graft prior to the implant placement to help strengthen your jawbone. This is often necessary when the implant is to be placed in the maxilla (upper jaw) towards the back of the mouth.
The bone may be limited there because of the maxillary sinus (air-filled space found in the bones of the face). A small surgical procedure called a sinus lift can be performed to raise the sinus floor and graft more bone into the sinus.
Your oral surgery specialist may also use small-diameter implants, or mini implants, which require less support from the bone structure.
Once the bone density is sufficient for dental implants, your provider will perform dental implant surgery.
The surgeon will then place the implant screw into the jawbone and stitch your gums up around it.
You can use local anesthesia and sedation if you choose. The healing process can take 3 to 6 months until the dental implants integrate with the surrounding bone.
When your implant is fully secured, you'll return to the office so your surgeon can attach the abutment and the crown will be completed by your general surgeon.