Dental Implant Surgery

Dental implant surgery involves placing a titanium implant into the jawbone to provide a foundation for a replacement tooth or prosthesis. Our board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons perform dental implant surgery in Winston-Salem and Mount Airy, NC, and coordinate treatment with your restorative dentist or prosthodontist.

Planning for Dental Implant Placement

Before surgery, your surgeon evaluates the planned implant site, available bone, surrounding anatomy, medical history, and restorative treatment plan. Three-dimensional imaging may be used when appropriate to evaluate the site and assist with implant planning.

If there is not enough bone to support the planned implant, bone grafting for dental implants may be recommended before or at the time of implant placement.

What Happens During Dental Implant Surgery?

Local anesthesia is used to numb the surgical area. IV sedation and other anesthesia options may also be available when appropriate and can be discussed during your consultation.

During implant placement, the surgeon prepares the planned site in the jawbone and carefully places the dental implant. Depending on the clinical situation and restorative plan, a healing component may be visible above the gum tissue or the implant may be covered during the initial healing period.

Healing After Dental Implant Placement

After placement, the implant undergoes a healing process in which the surrounding bone integrates with the implant surface. Healing time varies according to the implant site, bone quality, whether grafting was performed, and other individual factors.

In some situations, a temporary restoration may be placed at or shortly after implant surgery when implant stability and other clinical conditions are appropriate. In other cases, the implant is allowed to heal before the restorative phase begins.

Your surgeon will monitor healing and coordinate with your restorative dentist or prosthodontist regarding the appropriate timing for the final restoration.

When Can a Dental Implant Be Placed?

The timing of dental implant placement depends on the condition of the tooth being removed, the extraction site, available bone, infection or inflammation, and the overall treatment plan.

In appropriate situations, an implant may be placed at the same appointment as a tooth extraction. In other situations, the extraction site is allowed to heal before implant placement. Bone grafting may also be performed when additional bone is needed for the planned implant.

Who Places the Final Implant Tooth?

Dental implant treatment typically involves both the surgeon and the restorative dentist or prosthodontist. Our surgeons place the dental implant and perform related surgical procedures when needed. After the implant has healed appropriately, your restorative dentist or prosthodontist provides the crown, bridge, denture, or other final prosthesis that attaches to the implant or implants.

How Many Dental Implants Will I Need?

The number of implants depends on what is being replaced. A single missing tooth may be replaced with one implant, while several implants can be used to support a bridge or other restoration. Patients replacing an entire arch may have either a removable implant-retained overdenture or a fixed full-arch restoration supported by multiple implants.

Learn more about dental implant options for missing teeth or compare full-arch dental implant options.