Your Initial Consultation With Dr. Klym
If you’re missing any number of teeth and want to restore your smile, the first step is a free consultation with Dr. Klym. He’ll use his many years of education and experience to evaluate your oral health and determine if you’re a candidate for dental implants.
He’ll ask you about your dental history and future smile goals to get a better idea of which solution will best fit your lifestyle and needs. This is also a great time to ask any questions you have about dental implants including our financing and payment options.
Once your treatment plan is established, we’ll take digital x-rays of your teeth and simulate an image of what your smile will look like with dental implants.
Placing Your Stable Implant Fixture
When you come back to our office to have your new restoration placed, Dr. Klym will review the process with you beforehand. To make sure you’re completely relaxed, we can give you one of our sedation options. They’re completely safe and will help eliminate any dental fears you may have.
Once you’ve been numbed and sedated, it’ll be time to place the implant fixture. This is a titanium rod that’s attached to your jawbone to act as the root or base for your restoration. The number of implants placed depends on how many teeth you’re having replaced. If you’re getting a full arch of crowns, Dr. Klym may place four to six implant fixtures to support it.
Before the beautiful porcelain crowns can be placed, however, your implants will need to heal and complete the osseointegration process. During this time, the titanium fixture fuses together with your bone to ensure your final restoration will function like a natural tooth.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a dental implant procedure take?
Having a dental implant placed usually takes around one to two hours for each implant, though it could take longer depending on factors such as your oral health. During this time, a durable titanium implant will be affixed to your jawbone. Dr. Klym will administer a local anesthetic beforehand to ensure you don’t feel anything during the procedure.
How long after an implant can I get a crown?
Depending on how long it takes for your implant to heal, you could have a crown placed around three to six months after the procedure. This healing time is crucial to the success of your implant, as your treatment may fail if a crown is placed too soon. Dr. Klym will provide you with an estimated treatment timeline during your initial consultation.
How long after dental implants can I eat normally?
Typically, most patients can return to their normal diets after about one week. However, this may vary for some patients. Dr. Klym will give you detailed instructions on how to care for your dental implants after the procedure.
During the recovery phase, you should avoid foods that are:
- Sticky (such as gum)
- Hard (such as raw vegetables)
- Chewy (such as steak)
- Crunchy (such as popcorn)
- Hot (such as soup)
- Spicy (such as salsa)
These foods may irritate your implant site, leading to complications and setting you back on your treatment. You can contact us at (231) 774-6819 for any questions or concerns.
Are dental implants painful?
Not at all! The process of receiving dental implants is a virtually painless experience. Dr. Klym will administer a local anesthetic to the targeted tooth and surrounding areas to alleviate any pain you may feel during the procedure.
You may feel some slight discomfort once the numbness fades, but this can be easily managed with over-the-counter pain medications and cold compresses. If your pain or discomfort persists after a few days, contact our Traverse City office right away at (231) 774-6819 to schedule an appointment. Dr. Klym will be able to assess and resolve your situation.
Enjoying a Fully Restored Smile
Once osseointegration is complete, you’ll come back to our office to have your porcelain crowns placed. They’ll be attached to your implant fixtures with an abutment piece to make sure they’re firmly secured.
Dental implants will give you a complete smile that you’ll want to show to everyone. With your newfound confidence, you’re likely to see areas of your life improve.
While missing teeth may have limited your ability to eat and speak in front of others, your new smile will help you build new relationships and even help you advance in your career.
Contact Dr. Klym at (231) 774-6819 to get started. You can also fill out our simple contact form below if you have additional questions for us.