Before officially starting your dental implant treatment, you’ll have to schedule a consultation with your dentist. As you might suspect, a consultation is a bit different than the usual dental appointment. Instead of sitting in the patient’s chair with your mouth open as your dentist cleans or treats your teeth, you’ll have a more casual conversation about your needs and goals. By the end, you should have a clear idea of what your dental implant treatment will actually look like.
But what will the consultation look like? If you want to know more specifics about the typical dental implant consultation experience, keep reading!
Reviewing Your Health History
After a brief meet-and-greet with your implant dentist, they’ll ask you questions about your health history. Even if you filled out a form ahead of time, it’s good for your dentist to confirm the details with you and ensure everything is up-to-date. This will cue them into any special accommodation or adjustments they might have to make to your treatment plan, so be honest, and remember to mention all of the medications and supplements you’re taking.
A Thorough Oral Exam
From there, it’s time to get a sense of your current oral health situation. Conditions like gum disease and infection can result in dental implant failure, so it’s important for your dentist to keep an eye out for potential warning signs. Plus, they’ll want to get a good look at your dental gaps and see what sort of restoration might best suit your needs!
Rest assured, your implant dentist won’t keep their findings to themselves. They’ll address any potential issues with you or give you the “all-clear.”
Planning Preliminary Treatments
If your dentist does find evidence of an active oral condition, they’ll help you plan preliminary treatments. These are simply procedures you’ll complete before starting the dental implant process and are meant to promote the success of your restoration. Depending on the situation, you might need gum disease therapy, a root canal, tooth extraction, or other similar oral health remedies.
Q&A
Finally, your implant dentist will wrap-up the consultation by giving you a chance to ask questions. Of course, you’ll be welcome to call them at any time if you happen to think of additional concerns later! Still, you might find it helpful to bring a list of queries to your consultation. That way, you won’t have to worry about forgetting to ask anything in the moment.
As you can see, a dental implant consultation is just a way for you and your dentist to make sure you’re on the same-page about your treatment plan. It’s the perfect time to get a clearer picture of your future with dental implants. Don’t worry, and don’t rush – your dentist will listen patiently and attentively throughout your visit!
About the Author
Dr. James Mularczyk values clinical excellence, which is why he continuously exceeds continuing education requirements and works with local specialists for dental implant surgery. He has over 20 years of experience in dentistry so far and still loves forming lasting relationships with his patients. You can schedule a dental implant consultation with Dr. Mularczyk by contacting his office at 269-429-6001.