314-762-6784
With You Every Step of the Way
Receiving dental implants may seem like a frightening and overwhelming experience. But at St. Louis County Dental, we aim to make sure our patients have all the information they need at their disposal. Charting a course for oral health has many options, and it can be hard to know exactly what the next step should be. Dr. Barry Brace wants our patients to know he and our St. Louis team will be with them for every step of the process.
Your Initial Consultation with Dr. Brace
The first step to achieving a beautiful smile is scheduling a $1 consultation at our St. Louis, MO, office to learn more about it.
During your appointment with Dr. Brace, you will weigh the benefits of dental implants for your oral health and whether you are a candidate for implants. He’ll also discuss the dental implant process with you step-by-step. This is the perfect time to ask questions and provide him with details about your day-to-day life. He’ll use this information to determine the correct treatment to fit your needs.
We’ll use our advanced technology to take images of your mouth. We use these to simulate where we will place your implants and what the end result will look like.
Placing Your Implants
Once you and Dr. Brace have agreed that implants are the best course of treatment, the next step is to return to our office for implant placement.
Dr. Brace will attach your implants to your jaw so that they’ll imitate your natural teeth exactly. This is possible through a process called osseointegration. Osseointegration is the process of the implant fusing with the jawbone. The purpose of this technique is to stimulate jawbone growth and allow your jaw to become stronger.
You’ll be sent home with special aftercare instructions to ensure your dental implants heal correctly and don’t become infected. This includes how to care for your implants and things you should avoid until your mouth is healed.
Experience the Benefits of Your Beautiful New Smile
Once your implants have healed, you’ll experience the many benefits that they offer. Your new smile will make you want to smile more and will eliminate the embarrassment you’ve had in the past.
If you have any questions or concerns about dental implants before or after the procedure, don’t hesitate to contact our staff. Dr. Barry Brace is well-educated and a member of many professional dental organizations for both general and implant dentistry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Implant Procedure Painful?
At St. Louis County Dental, we do our best to make you as comfortable as possible during the entire dental implant process. To ensure you don’t feel any pain during the procedure, we’ll provide you with an anesthetic.
You may experience soreness after the procedure, so Dr. Brace will provide you with pain killers if needed.
How Long Does the Procedure Take?
The procedure varies in time depending on if you’ll need to receive a supplemental procedure or not. It takes about one or two hours for Dr. Brace to place your implant fixture, and you’ll have to come back for another appointment to have your porcelain crown attached.
Will I be Awake During the Procedure?
Many of our patients are awake during the dental implant procedure, but some can choose to be put to sleep if they have dental anxiety or phobias. Since we use a local anesthetic to numb you during the procedure, you won’t feel a thing whether you’re awake or asleep.
What Can I Safely Eat After the Procedure?
We recommend that you stick to soft foods until your dental implant is healed. This includes foods like mashed potatoes, soup, smoothies, and yogurt. Eating foods that require chewing can hinder the healing process and cause complications.
Will I Need Someone to Accompany Me to My Implant Surgery?
This depends on the type of anesthetic or sedation that you receive during the procedure. You’ll be able to drive yourself home after receiving a local anesthetic, but some sedatives require you to have someone else drive you home. Dr. Brace will address this before your surgery.
Get A Renewed Smile in St. Louis, MO
At St. Louis County Dental, we work hard to make sure our patients are informed, comfortable and safe in our office. To schedule your consultation, call our St. Louis, MO office at 314-762-6784. We cannot wait to begin guiding you through your oral health journey!