Fixed dentures require surgery in an office setting under local anesthesia in most cases, which is now a routine procedure thanks to modern techniques. If you need to have some teeth removed , we will do this first, often on the same day we place your implants. The implants surgery generally takes one to three hours. We determine the appropriate number of implants, as well as their precise positions and angles, to maximize support and avoid anatomical structures such as nerves and sinuses. Most post-surgery pain can be managed with over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Some patients don't even need to take that.

Our team determines what is best to promote healing depending on your situation. Sometimes a set of temporary teeth can be attached immediately so that you can leave the office with new teeth. In this situation, we would install your permanent replacement teeth a few months later. In other cases, the implants will be left to heal for several months before any teeth are attached, to ensure that the implants properly go through the process of fusing to your jawbone, known as osseointegration.

No matter what, you will need to go easy on your newly placed implants during the crucial healing phase. We will recommend that you eat a softer diet and avoid hard, chewy foods until the process of osseointegration is complete, which takes about three months. The good news is that once your implants have fused to your jawbone and your new permanent teeth are attached, you will be able to eat anything you want. You are likely to forget you even have dental implants!