Dental implants are one of the greatest investments you can make in your smile and confidence. Your first consultation is our chance to understand your smile goals and the functional needs that must be addressed. We take digital x-rays to assess your bone levels and create surgical guides, discuss your dental and medical history, and answer your questions about our treatment process and approach to your care.

From our discussions and evaluations during your consultation(s), we can begin to develop a treatment plan customized to the health, aesthetic, and functional needs of your smile. We may include teeth extraction, bone grafting, or other treatments to ensure your mouth is fully prepared to receive implants. We will also discuss insurance, financial information, and third-party financing.

Today, we place dental implants into your jaw bone, strategically positioned with our custom surgical guide. The treatment site is numbed with local anesthetic, but you are free to choose additional sedation to help you relax. We complete implant surgery as an out-patient procedure, so you can return home the same day as your appointment. Once your surgery is complete, we will provide you with all post-operative instructions.

Follow-up appointments are critical steps in the dental implants process. Two weeks after your surgery, we will examine the surgical site and monitor how the implants are healing. If you are experiencing any oral conditions or pain, these concerns must be addressed as soon as possible. Dental implants require at least four months of healing to fully integrate with the bone. Minor pain, bleeding, and swelling is normal directly after your surgery, but should lessen as your implant heals.

When your dental implants have fully healed and integrated into your bone, you are ready to have them restored with custom prosthetics. Depending on how many teeth we replace, this can be a single dental crown, a series of crowns, an overdenture, or a full arch prosthesis. Dr. Bauer is skilled in the artistry and technicality of prosthetic design, helping you achieve your desired smile through customized, natural-looking restorations.

Dental implants do need daily care and can become susceptible to decay and infection just like natural teeth. Along with maintaining a good at-home oral hygiene routine, coming to our office for regular dental check-ups helps ensure that your implants are functioning correctly and not at risk for failure. By maintaining this routine and remaining healthy in your day-to-day life, your dental implants can last for many years.