The procedure for dental implants involves inserting a small metal post into the empty socket left by a missing tooth root and replacing the damaged tooth with an artificial crown that looks and functions much like a real tooth. Because the post is made of titanium, a biocompatible material, the surrounding jawbone will naturally fuse to the titanium post over time, a process called osseointegration. This ensures a stable foundation for your new artificial teeth and stimulates bone growth, preventing bone and gum recession.

The surgical procedure is in fact quite minor and routine, requiring only local anesthesia in most cases, and dental implant success rates are over 95%.

Make an appointment today for a consultation to find out if dental implants are right for you.

Dental Implant Procedure:

1. You must first have a thorough dental exam that may include taking dental X-rays and making models of your teeth and mouth.
2. Dr. Kim will work with you to design a treatment plan that takes into consideration the number of teeth you need replaced, the condition of your jawbone, and any medical conditions you may have.
3. The damaged tooth will be removed.
4. Your jawbone must be prepared for surgery. If your bone is too soft or too thin, you may require bone grafting. With our in-office Cone Beam Digital 3D Imaging System, we can diagnose oral conditions safely and precisely to increase the likelihood of a successful implant.
5. Once your jawbone is healed, Dr Kim will insert the dental implant metal post deep in your jawbone.
6. You must wait for the bone to grow and heal again during osseointegration, a process that may take several months. During this time, you may use a partial, removable denture for appearance to temporarily fill in the gap in your teeth.
7. Next, Dr. Kim will attach the abutment (the connecting fixture where the crown will eventually be placed), to the dental implant. If the implant is very stable, this can be done at the same time that the implant is placed, which means you won’t need an extra surgical step.
8. After your gums heal from the abutment placement (1-2 weeks), Dr. Kim will make impressions of your mouth and teeth and jawbone again and work with you to choose artificial teeth that are fixed, removable, or a combination of both. As a specialist in prosthodontics, Dr. Kim crafts completely customized tooth prostheses in his lab.
9. In the final step, your artificial teeth will be placed on the abutment.