9 January 2025

Dental Implants: Essential Information for First-Time Patients

Getting Your First Dental Implant? What You Need to Know

Among the various tooth replacement options for people with missing teeth or damaged dentures, there are a number of reasons why dental implants may make particular sense.

You might be considering getting your first dental implant because you have heard that this treatment can provide a discreet and permanent solution for the replacement of teeth.
However, if you’re thinking of enquiring to a dental practice like Knighton Dental about having a dental implant procedure done, it is crucial to separate the reality about this treatment from the misconceptions.

So, let’s take you through the essentials of what to expect from your first dental implant.

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are manmade replacements for an individual’s natural tooth roots. Each dental implant itself takes the form of a titanium screw, surgically placed into the patient’s jawbone.

Once the implants are in place and are bonded to the bone, a new, false tooth – known as a “crown”, and matching the colour of the patient’s existing teeth – can be fitted to the top of the implant.

When the dental implant procedure is successful, the artificial tooth will look and work much like a natural tooth. Dental implants, then, can be an excellent long-term solution, as long as the patient looks after them properly.

Why Choose Dental Implants?

There are many proven benefits of dental implants, such as:

• The improvement they can bring to your smile – and the associated boost in self-confidence
• The restoration of your bite, which will make it easier for you to chew and eat properly
• The preservation of the health and stability of your surrounding teeth and gums
• The prevention of further bone loss, given how dental implants stimulate the jawbone

How To Prepare for Your First Dental Implants?

Before you make a definite decision in favour of any dental implant procedure, you will first need to arrange a consultation with a dental practice.

This initial consultation with a dentist or treatment coordinator will involve discussing your options and what you wish to achieve with your dental implant procedure. It will also give you an opportunity to ask any questions about this treatment.

Following the consultation, you can expect to undergo a clinical assessment to determine your suitability for dental implants. This will involve the dentist taking X-rays of your mouth, so that they can create a model of your existing teeth and decide where any dental implants will need to be placed.
If it is determined through this process that dental implants would be the right choice for you, your dentist will talk you through the specifics of the procedure and set out the exact costs.
Only once you have made the final decision to go ahead with the procedure, will you sign a treatment plan with your chosen dental practice.

What To Expect After the Procedure

Here are a few things to bear in mind about dental implant aftercare:

• After the placement of the implant, you may need to rest several hours until the effects of the anaesthetic have faded.
• Dental implants are normally placed under local anaesthetic. However, in some cases, a dental implant procedure is carried out under general anaesthetic or sedation. In that case, you won’t be able to drive, so it will be necessary for someone else to take you home.
• You should be able to resume your normal routine within a day of treatment. However, it will be crucial to avoid any overly strenuous activity, such as intense exercise.
• It is likely that you will experience some light bleeding during the first one or two days of your dental implant recovery. If the bleeding continues or gets worse, contact your dentist for advice.

Would you like to learn more about dental implants, and whether they could be the right solution for your requirements? If so, consider booking a free consultation with one of our clinicians in Leicester, so that we can advise and guide you further.