Patient education · Freedom Dental Implants
The short answer
For a suitable healed site, Dr. Ackerman describes placing a mini implant with a temporary tooth, then fitting the final crown about four to five weeks later. She first uses a 3D X-ray to confirm that there is enough bone.
Whether the missing tooth affects your smile or your ability to chew, you may want to know how many visits replacement will take. In this video, Dr. Regan Ackerman explains her process for replacing a single tooth with a mini dental implant.
So if you come to the office and you have one missing tooth, you just want one tooth replaced, I’m your gal. I can help you out. So I’ll do the 3D x-ray to confirm that you have enough bone, and as long as you’ve usually been missing that tooth for about 2 to 3 months, and it’s healed, the bone has healed, I can place the implant the next day. No incisions, no stitches, just local anesthesia.
I’ll place the implant. The day I place the implant, you’ll leave with a temporary tooth or crown on there. So if it’s a front tooth you’ve been missing, you will get your smile filled in that day, and then you’ll come back about 4 to 5 weeks later. You don’t have to wait 6 months and come back and get numb and have an incision, but you’ll come back about 4 to 5 weeks later. Usually I don’t have to get you numb.
I’m going to take the temporary off. I’m going to try in our nice new pretty tooth, our crown, and as long as you’re happy with it and I’m happy with it, we will cement that tooth on permanently, and then you will have your tooth back and be able to smile again. Or if it’s a back tooth, you’ve had a molar taken out and miss chewing with it. The first appointment is for placing the implant, with no incisions or stitches. You can drive yourself to the office. We’re not going to sedate you.
So first appointment, place the implant, leave with the temporary. Second appointment, about 4 to 5 weeks later, you come back and we’re going to cement your permanent tooth or crown on there. So we try to make it as easy and simple as possible for you.
If you’re interested in learning more about replacing one missing tooth, we invite you to schedule a free consultation with Dr. Regan Ackerman at Freedom Dental Implants in Louisville, Kentucky. We look forward to giving you the freedom to smile.
A temporary tooth before the final crown
Dr. Ackerman distinguishes the temporary tooth placed with the implant from the final crown fitted later. She also explains that the site needs to have healed after tooth removal. Your consultation establishes whether the area is ready and what timeline applies to you.
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