Common Dental Implant Questions

The time it takes to receive dental implants varies from patient to patient. It all depends on their individual needs, such as how many implants are being placed and if any supplemental procedures, such as bone grafting, are needed. During your consultation with Dr. Barras, he will determine your needs to get a better idea of how long your treatment will take. If you’d like to learn more, contact Barras Family Dentistry to schedule a dental implant consultation.

At Barras Family Dentistry, your comfort is our top priority. We offer sedation dentistry to help keep you relaxed and pain-free during implant surgery, and most patients have no memory of the procedure. Dr. Barras will prescribe medications to help ease any pain and discomfort you may experience in the days following your surgery.

For a successful outcome, it’s important to have a healthy and disease free mouth before receiving dental implants. If you have gum disease, you will need to undergo periodontal treatment before implants can be placed. We treat all stages of gum disease to help you regain oral health. Depending on your specific needs, your treatment may include deep cleanings (scaling and root planing), antibiotic treatment, or gum surgery.

Yes! In fact, implants can make wearing dentures more comfortable and stable. However, if you have been wearing dentures for a long time, you may have bone loss that typically occurs when teeth are missing. If you have experienced bone loss you may need to undergo preparatory procedures to prepare your jawbone to receive implants

This typically depends on the condition of the jawbone in the area where the tooth was extracted as well as your overall health. Many patients are healthy enough to have a tooth extracted and a dental implant placed during the same appointment. For others, bone loss may be an issue requiring a preparatory procedure before the implant surgery. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Barras to see if you are a candidate for same day implants.

Recovery time will vary by patient, but we recommend staying home from work the day after your surgery to allow swelling and soreness to lessen. It’s also important to not push yourself too hard in the days following your procedure. We recommend refraining from strenuous activities, eating hard foods, and smoking to allow your body to heal.

One of the benefits of dental implants is that they don’t require any extra care than what you normally do for your natural teeth. Regular brushing, flossing, and dental checkups are important to helping your implants last for a lifetime, as is eating a nutritious diet.

For many patients, dental implants can last a lifetime with proper at home care and professional checkups and cleanings. However, the crown that is placed on the implant typically lasts 10 to 15 years with normal wear at which time it will need to be replaced.

We don’t want anything to get in your way of restoring your smile. That’s why we offer several financing options to make dental implants more affordable, including no money down and no interest plans through CareCredit℠. To learn more, visit our financing page or contact our Lafayette practice today!