Step-By-Step Process Of Getting Dental Implants: What To Expect

Losing a tooth can feel like losing a piece of yourself. But just as the earth renews after a harsh season, your smile, too, can be restored with care and patience. Dental implants offer a strong and lasting way to bring back not just your teeth, but your confidence and comfort.

At Dr. Andres de Cardenas DMD, we want your journey to a healthier, more confident smile to be smooth and stress-free. In our traditions, we honor the process as much as the result. Healing and rebuilding take time, and it’s wise to know what lies ahead before you take the first step.

This guide will walk you through the journey of getting dental implants, from the first consultation to the final placement. You’ll learn what to expect at every stage, how to prepare, and how to care for yourself throughout the process.

What Is A Dental Implant?

Let’s start with the basics. A dental implant is a man-made root for a tooth that’s usually made of titanium. It’s placed in your jawbone where your original tooth used to be via surgery. Once it heals, it’s the stable foundation for your new fake tooth, be it a crown, bridge, or denture.

The magic of implants? They are as natural, feeling, appearing, and functioning as your own teeth, so much so that several of our patients forget that a tooth is an implant within a certain period of time.

Step 1: Your First Consultation

It all starts with an initial consultation visit to our office. This is where we get to know you, your oral health history, and what you are looking for.

We’ll perform a complete dental examination, take X-rays, and discuss any medical conditions or medications that can affect healing. Knowing your teeth and jaw is important in identifying whether you are a good candidate for dental implants. If your jawbone is too thin or not strong enough, don’t worry. A bone graft can often make it thicker and stronger before the implants.

The most important aspect of this visit is open communication. We’ll answer all your questions, explain your options, and build a customized treatment plan just for you.

Step 2: Tooth Extraction (If Necessary)

If the tooth we want to replace still exists but is severely broken or rotted, we will have to remove it. There may be times that we can remove the tooth and place the dental implant in one visit, but at other times the gum and bone need to heal a bit before we place the implant.

Don’t fret—extraction is quick and comfortable because of anesthesia and modern techniques. You’ll be done before you can say “root canal”.

Step 3: Bone Grafting (If Needed)

This section is where things get a little technical, but we’ll keep this simple. Your dental implant needs a solid foundation, and that means solid bone in your jaw. If the region has become thinned or compromised—maybe due to gum disease or bone loss accompanied by tooth loss—a bone graft reconstructs it.

This involves adding bone material (most often a human donor or synthetic material) to the site. Bone graft healing can take months, but it’s a necessary step to make your implant strong and long-lasting.

Step 4: Dental Implant Placement

Once the bone is prepared and the surgical wound healed, it’s now time for the crowning glory: implant surgery.

As we do this procedure, we numb the area with local anesthetic and make a small incision into your gum to expose the bone. Then, we gently place the titanium implant into the jawbone—where your original tooth root used to be. We then close the gum tissue around or over the implant and let the healing begin.

Don’t be surprised if this portion of the process comes across as remarkably mild. The overwhelming majority of patients find the implant procedure less painful than expected.

Step 5: Osseointegration And Healing

Here, we let your body do its thing. In the following months, the implant and bone increasingly bond as one in a process termed osseointegration. It is what gives the implant its strength and stability. It may take several months, but the time is necessary for the implant to become a part of your jaw permanently.

Meanwhile, it is critical to have good oral health, not put undue stress on the implant, and get back to the dentist for checkups on a regular basis. Good care of the mouth guarantees success—and prevents issues such as failure of the implant.

Step 6: Abutment Placement

Once the implant is well healed and secure, we move on to the next step: putting in the abutment.

The abutment is a small connecting piece that attaches your implant to your final crown or denture. To place it, we reopen the gum sufficiently to reveal the implant, attach the abutment, and allow the gums to heal around it. It’s a small but important step that sets the stage for your new artificial tooth.

Step 7: Creating And Placing Your New Tooth

And here’s the part of the process you’ve been waiting for—your new smile!

Once your gums have healed over your abutment, we take accurate impressions of your teeth to create a crown, bridge, or denture that will fit perfectly. We stain, shape, and size the crown, bridge, or denture to match your existing teeth so everything looks natural.

When the restoration is complete, it’s carefully attached to the abutment, and voila—you have a gorgeous new tooth. This is the final step for one tooth, some teeth, or an entire mouth.

Step 8: Long-Term Care And Follow-Up

While your dental implant is designed to be durable, long-term success depends on how well you care for it. That means regular brushing and flossing, keeping those regular dental check-ups, and ensuring healthy gums.

The implant itself won’t get cavities (it’s titanium, for the record), although the tissue supporting the implant does need tender loving care. With proper care, your implant can last for decades, or a lifetime.

The Benefits Of Dental Implants

Dental implants might sound like a big investment in time and care, and honestly, they are. But the payoff is huge. You’re not just getting a new tooth; you’re getting back your confidence, your comfort, and your ability to eat, laugh, and speak without worry.

Here’s what our patients love most about implants:

They feel secure. They appear natural. They don’t move around like dentures. They also prevent jawbone loss, which makes your face look old and unhealthy.

Best of all, implants are so successful that many individuals report they forget they ever lost a tooth to begin with.

So, How Are Dental Implants Done?

To summarize, here’s how dental implants are performed:

It starts with a consultation and exam. Then, depending on your specific needs, we can extract a tooth, do a bone graft, or go ahead and place the implant. Next, the implant heals and attaches to your jawbone. When it’s ready, we place the abutment and, finally, attach your new artificial tooth. The whole process can take several months, but the result is more than worth every step.

Why Timing Matters: Don’t Wait To Get Dental Implants

We totally get it—life happens, and it’s easy to put off dental work. But when it comes to filling in missing teeth, timing does matter. Waiting too long after losing a tooth can cause bone loss or weakening of your jawbone. That means the longer you wait, the more complicated the dental implant procedure can be. You might need additional procedures like bone grafting to rebuild your new tooth’s foundation.

Getting a dental implant earlier rather than later helps keep your mouth healthier, your face shaping normally, and your neighboring teeth in their correct position. It also makes eating and speaking easier, especially once your implant is fully healed and functioning like a real tooth.

If you’ve lost one or more teeth, don’t wait until they affect your confidence, your comfort, or your bite. The sooner we place the implant, the easier the process is—and the sooner you can get back to smiling with confidence. Let’s do this together.

Ready To Replace Missing Teeth With Confidence?

If you’ve been struggling with missing or damaged teeth, or just haven’t been feeling yourself when you smile, it’s time to talk to your dental specialist about your choices. At Dr. Andres de Cardenas DMD, we’re more than just implant placers—we’re here to see you through from start to finish, with personalized care and expert guidance.

Let’s begin the discussion whether you need a single implant or a full dental restoration. We would be happy to assist you in getting back your smile, protecting your oral health, and feeling great every time you look in the mirror.

Call us or book your appointment today. Your new smile is just a few steps away.