Preparing for an implant

An implant needs healthy gums and enough bone to hold it. This page covers what we check first and what we do when the site isn't ready.

What happens

Anywhere from no extra visits to a few, plus healing time that can run several months.

01
Step 1: Check the gums
An exam and a gum check. Untreated gum disease is treated before an implant is placed, not after.
02
Step 2: Read the scan
The scan shows how much bone is at the gap. Dr. Clemons shows you where it is thin and what that means.
03
Step 3: Graft if needed
A small graft can be placed when the tooth comes out, or later. Then the site heals before the implant goes in.
04
Step 4: Refer if needed
A large graft or a sinus procedure is referred to a surgeon. You return here for the crown.

Comfort
The area is numbed with a local anesthetic, and we check that it is numb before we begin. Most people feel pressure, not pain. Tell us if you want a break and we stop. We don't offer sedation in this office.
If you wait or choose differently
Bone at a gap shrinks over time, which can make an implant harder later. Dr. Clemons says whether a graft now would keep your options open, and whether leaving it is reasonable.
Risks and after-care
A graft can become infected or not take, and then needs to be redone or the plan changes. Soreness and swelling are expected for a few days. We give written after-care and a number to call.
How it's billed
The graft, if you need one, has its own line in the estimate. Plans differ on grafts, and we tell you what we know.
How fees work

Not always. The scan decides, and Dr. Clemons shows it to you.

We go through the materials with you at the visit, including where each comes from.

A surgeon you are referred to. We send the scan and take you back afterward.

Dr. Henrietta Clemons, DDS, general dentist, licensed in Illinois.