Did you just schedule a dental implant consultation in DuPont? Congratulations on taking the first (and biggest!) step towards rebuilding your smile and boosting your oral health. The best way to get the most out of this important visit is to know what to expect and come up with questions to get a better understanding of the process. Read below for a detailed walkthrough of what you can anticipate happening at your dental implant consultation and some ideas for questions to ask your dentist.
Speak with Your Dentist
After you arrive at your dentist’s office and get comfortable in the treatment chair, your dentist will come in and introduce themselves. Many dentists like to ask you about yourself and get to know you a little bit before diving right into the details of your consultation, so you can expect some questions about your hobbies, work and family!
Your dentist will ask you about your medical and oral health history, and they may also review your past X-rays and impressions if you have any.
Take Diagnostic Images
If you don’t have recent X-rays or diagnostic images taken of your mouth and facial structure, your dental implant dentist may take some. This will help them assess your oral health in a more detailed manner. If a cone beam CT scan is required, they may have that taken at the specialist’s office who they partner with for the dental implant surgery part of the treatment.
Talk About Your Treatment Plan
In some cases, patients are good candidates for dental implants immediately, but in other situations, some may require preliminary treatments like a bone graft or sinus lift before they can undergo surgery. Your dentist will discuss what your unique treatment plan will look like, including how long the process will take and what your results will be like.
Ask Questions & Get Answers
Before you agree to move forward with your treatment plan, it’s a good idea to ask any lingering questions you may have while your dentist is still in front of you. Try to come prepared with a list of questions ready, like these:
- How many dental implants will need to be placed?
- What type of sedation will I need during surgery?
- What are the materials used to create the implants and replacement teeth?
- Will I need a tooth extraction, bone graft, or any type of preparatory procedure?
- How much will my treatment cost?
While it’s likely that your dentist will already answer many of these during your consultation, if you didn’t get an answer for them, be sure to ask!
Dental implants are the modern gold standard for replacing missing teeth, so investing in restoring your smile with this cutting-edge treatment will be well worthwhile! Coming to your implant consultation prepared and ready to understand what the process will be like will help you set realistic expectations for your dentist, yourself, and the treatment as a whole.
About the Practice
At DuPont Family Dentistry, our team is led by Drs. Rhenu Sharma and John Ludu, who have decades of experience practicing dentistry. We partner with local dental implant specialists to ensure our patients are able to enjoy the best and longest lasting results possible. To learn whether you qualify for dental implants, schedule a consultation on DuPont Family Dentistry’s website or call 253-964-7000.