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The Dental Implant Process
Unlike a denture or crown, which can replace only the top of a tooth, a dental implant is used to restore the root of a missing tooth. Before beginning the implant process, we evaluate your medical and dental history, conduct a full clinical examination of your mouth, and take three-dimensional digital X-rays. With this information, Dr. Rye designs a Personalized Dental Plan including the number and location of implants to be placed. Dr. Rye then constructs a guide that ensures precise placement of your implants.
Evaluation, Diagnosis, and Planning with the 3D Cone Beam CT
Making the right choices in dentistry first depends on knowing exactly what sort of situation we’re dealing with, and with equipment like the PreXion 3D Cone Beam CT, within seconds we can see everything that’s going on in the mouth, teeth, jaw, and airway.
This means that you do not have to schedule two appointments in order to learn what your options are – we can do the scan and diagnosis on the same day, and inform you of the best treatment path for you.
Not only is the cone beam scanner more convenient for you, it’s also healthier. A traditional fan beam CT exposes the patient to approximately 80% more radiation than is experienced in a cone beam CT. The structure of the scan is different, and the scan time is much faster, as well, which helps minimize radiation exposure.
In our Fairfax dentist office, we prefer the PreXion 3D Cone Beam CT for a variety of diagnostic uses. It’s the absolute best method for planning dental implants, but can also help us diagnose things like periodontal disease and jaw tumors. It can help us see the full picture when it comes to impacted teeth, and can even assist us with treating problems like TMJ and sleep apnea.
The PreXion 3D scan also helps us show you exactly what’s going on in your mouth, so that you can better understand the diagnosis and treatment options that are presented to you. This can help you to feel more confident about visiting the dentist, as there are no question marks and everything is made perfectly clear with the help of the scanned 3D image.
But the best part of the PreXion 3D Cone Beam CT is how it benefits us when it comes time for you to have a procedure. Because of the accuracy of the scan, we can see the mouth in great detail exactly how it is, and this means that there are no surprises when it comes to the procedure. We can reduce the anesthesia and procedure time, which in turn means that you will have a reduced recovery time.
As if that weren’t enough, the PreXion 3D Cone Beam CT costs much less than having a CT scan done the old-fashioned way, so there’s no reason not to take advantage of this amazing technology.
We have a PreXion 3D Cone Beam CT scanner in our Fairfax dentist office, so you can get your scan without having to visit two locations.
Surgical Phase
During the surgical phase, the titanium implant is placed into the jawbone. Anesthesia or sedation appropriate to the patient’s needs is used. As the body heals, the bone around the implant fuses to the implant, leaving just a small area of metal exposed, on which a customized replacement tooth will be attached. Healing time generally takes two to six months, depending on the type of implant used.
Restorative Phase
The restorative phase of treatment takes place after the gums heal. A dental crown, bridge, or denture is crafted to fit atop the implant, and then permanently fixed to the titanium root. Once complete, the restored tooth looks, feels, and functions like its natural counterparts.
CareCredit
CareCredit is a healthcare credit card designed for your health and wellness needs. Pay for the costs of many treatments and procedures through convenient monthly payments.
