What to Expect with Dental Implants - Perth
A guide to the clinical steps involved in implant treatment
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A Brief Overview of What to Expect with Dental Implants
Dental implant provide a long-lasting, natural-looking solution by replacing missing teeth from the roots, preserving jawbone health and restoring function and aesthetics. Patients exploring dental implants in Perth can use this guide to understand the main stages of treatment, from consultation and planning through to implant placement, restoration, and ongoing care.
The dental implant procedure at Aria Dental begins with a complimentary consultation in Perth CBD, Midland, or Scarborough, WA, where we assess your oral health and create a personalised plan.
Preliminary procedures like bone grafting, tooth extraction, or a sinus lift may be required for optimal results. Titanium implants are surgically placed and allowed to integrate with the jawbone over several months through osseointegration. Once healed, abutments are attached, and a custom crown, bridge, or full-mouth prosthesis is created in our on-site dental lab. Because each case is unique, we recommend scheduling your free consultation to learn more about your dental implant procedure with our expert team.
Common Myths and Facts About Dental Implants
- MYTH: Dental Implants Are Painful
- FACT:
With streamlined techniques and anaesthesia that minimises anxiety and pain, getting dental implants is a more pleasant experience than most people anticipate. Many patients report only mild soreness, comparable to routine dental procedures.
- MYTH: Implants Are Too Expensive
- FACT:
While the initial investment is higher, dental implants provide a durable, long-term solution. Unlike dentures or bridges that may need frequent replacement, implants can last for decades, making them more cost-effective over time.
-
MYTH: Implants Look
Obvious and Unnatural
- FACT:
Dental implants match your natural teeth in terms of aesthetics and function. They blend in and function beautifully, so only you can differentiate between your implant and natural teeth.
-
MYTH: Implants Require
High Maintenance
- FACT:
Dental implants require the same care as natural teeth after healing. Daily brushing, flossing, and professional dental care are all necessary to maintain full function and aesthetics.
-
MYTH: Implants Are
Prone to Failure
- FACT:
-
MYTH: Older Adults Are Not
Candidates for Dental Implants
- FACT:
Older adults tend to have decreased bone density and more significant general health issues. However, age alone does not exclude getting dental implants. With proper evaluation and care, older adults can still be excellent candidates for this life-changing treatment.
A New Smile Starts with a Complimentary Consultation
The first step to a restored smile is to book a complimentary dental implant consultation. During this initial visit, we will explain everything you need to know to make an informed choice about your tooth replacement options.
Your complimentary dental implant consultation includes an examination and any diagnostic imaging necessary to evaluate your oral health and plan treatment. Based on this assessment, we will create a personalised treatment plan outlining all the steps involved, including the estimated timeline and costs.
Preparing for Dental Implant Surgery
Proper preparation helps ensure a smooth dental implant procedure, and our team will provide personalised guidelines to support you. Before the procedure, we may recommend a professional cleaning and, if needed, perform bone grafting in advance to allow for healing.
Maintaining good oral hygiene and avoiding smoking are crucial to support recovery and implant success. On the day of your procedure, especially if receiving IV sedation or general anaesthesia, you’ll need to follow specific instructions and arrange transportation to and from the clinic.
The Steps Involved in Dental Implant Surgery
Once your initial consultation and treatment plan are complete, you will be scheduled for implant surgery.
After administering local anaesthesia and your choice of sedation, a small incision is made in your gum tissue to access the jawbone.
A precise hole is drilled into the jawbone using specialised tools, and a biocompatible implant—titanium or zirconia—is placed securely in the predetermined site.
Both titanium and zirconia implants are designed to fuse with your jawbone, replacing your missing tooth root.
After implant placement, the gum tissue is sutured to protect the surgical site.
If you’re receiving full-mouth dental implants in Perth CBD, Midland, or Scarborough, WA, we will fit you with a set of temporary teeth to wear during the healing phase.
What to Expect After Your Implant Procedure
As with any oral surgical procedure, it is natural to experience discomfort after dental implants.
- Immediately After Surgery
It is normal to experience some swelling, bruising, mild bleeding, and discomfort after dental implant surgery. These symptoms typically peak within 48 hours and gradually subside. While over-the-counter pain medication is ideal for mild pain, we can prescribe stronger pain medication if you need it.
- During the Osseointegration and Healing Process
Dental implants take 3-6 months to integrate with your underlying bone. You need to avoid hard, sticky, and crunchy foods, limit your diet to soft foods, and gradually introduce firmer foods after healing. We recommend refraining from smoking and drinking alcohol because both can impair healing and increase the risk of implant failure.
You should continue to brush and floss gently. In the early days, be careful around your surgical area to prevent dislodging the blood clot. Periodic follow-up visits at Aria Dental are crucial for monitoring your healing and fusion and ensuring any complications are caught early.
Management of Common Side Effects
It’s important to follow our post-operative instructions closely to support proper healing and reduce the risk of complications. If swelling or discomfort persists for weeks after surgery, please schedule a follow-up visit, as this may indicate infection or inflammation.
Here are a few post-operative tips for what you can expect:
- Expect minor bleeding to subside within a few hours.
- Use ice packs during the first 24 hours, then switch to warm compresses.
- Rinse gently with warm salt water to ease gum tenderness.
Essential Long-Term Care and Oral Hygiene Tips
While dental implants are easier to maintain than more temporary solutions, proper long-term care and maintenance are still necessary to boost the procedure’s success rate and help your implants last longer. These are essential tips to help you maintain your oral health:
We recommend using a soft-bristled toothbrush and nonabrasive toothpaste to protect the implants and your natural teeth. Brushing helps prevent plaque buildup and gum inflammation.
You should remove food particles and plaque from around your implant site every day. Dental floss or interdental brushes specially designed for implants or a water flosser can be used.
Using an antimicrobial mouthwash can reduce bacteria and the risk of gum disease, while improving your overall oral health.
Following surgery, you may be required to stick to soft foods like mashed potatoes, yogurt, and smoothies to avoid straining the surgical site.
In addition to regular dental check-ups every six months, periodic follow-up visits are crucial to ensure your sites are healing. During these visits, we will look for signs of gum inflammation around your implants and natural teeth.
Chewing on hard objects like ice, hard candies, whole almonds, or popcorn kernels can chip or crack your dental crowns. You should also refrain from biting your nails or pen caps!
In addition to refraining from smoking before surgery, it is best not to resume (if ever) until your implants have fully integrated.
In addition to being good for your general health, foods rich in calcium and Vitamin D support your bone health, which is crucial for osseointegration.
Understanding the Potential Risks
When an experienced implant dentist performs dental implant surgery, it is considered one of the safest and most predictable types of oral surgery. However, any surgery comes with some risks, so it is vital to recognise the signs.
A thorough evaluation and bone grafting or gum disease therapy minimise implant failure risk. However, an implant can become unstable and not fully fuse due to inadequate bone, poor oral hygiene, impaired healing, or a pre-existing condition.
A thorough evaluation and bone grafting or gum disease therapy minimise implant failure risk. However, an implant can become unstable and not fully fuse due to inadequate bone, poor oral hygiene, impaired healing, or a pre-existing condition.
In most cases, 3D diagnostic imaging accurately pinpoints the location of underlying nerves, thereby guiding safe surgery. An implant placed too close to a nerve can cause temporary or permanent numbness, tingling, or pain in the tongue, lips, gums, or face.
The upper back jaw can pose implant challenges if your sinus membrane is too low or the bone density is insufficient. A sinus lift procedure before surgery can prevent associated sinus problems.
Brushing aggressively, genetics, poor oral hygiene, smoking, bruxism (tooth clenching/grinding, and misaligned or crooked teeth can lead to receding gum tissue around implants. Insufficient gum tissue can expose the implant posts and increase the risk of failure without additional treatment.
Bone quality, health conditions like osteoporosis, and lifestyle habits such as smoking can cause bone loss around implants. When dental implants are subjected to excessive force or pressure, this can lead to implant failure and bone loss. Typically, this can be avoided if you have adequate bone or augment it with bone grafting before surgery and follow proper post-surgical care.
Swelling should subside after a few days, and bruising should fade within a week or two as your body heals. If you experience either for a prolonged period, you should schedule a prompt follow-up visit at Aria Dental.
Determining Candidacy for
Dental Implants
Although dental implants are ideal for most adults, our team will help determine if they are the right option for you during your initial consultation. In general, the following criteria are required to get dental implants:
- Healthy Gums
- Sufficient Bone
- Non-Smoking Status
- Managed Medical Conditions
- Good Oral Hygiene Habits
The Varying Cost of Dental Implants and Payment Methods
Because every patient has unique needs that require customised dental implant treatment, dental implant costs can vary considerably. Implant fees are based on the type and complexity of the work and the need for preliminary treatment.
We offer competitive prices. We are also happy to help you find the best financing option to meet your needs.
Enjoy a First-Class Implant Experience Under One Roof
At Aria Dental, patients benefit from the coordinated care of a specialist implant centre in Perth, with clinics in Perth CBD, Midland, and Scarborough, WA, and an in-depth understanding of dental implantology. With an on-site dental lab coupled with our aesthetically and technologically driven approach, you will experience precision dental implant surgery and a transformative new smile.
Our prosthodontist and dental implant dentists have a reputation for excellence, leading to Aria Dental becoming the go-to choice in Western Australia for superb tooth replacement options!
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Candidate for Dental Implants
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