As a Fellow in the International Congress of Oral Implantologists and many years of education and experience, Dr. James Furgurson is qualified to offer full dental implants services. Dr. Furgurson, along with Dr. Nathan White, will perform every step of the implant process from the comfort of their dentist office located in Chapel Hill, NC. This will save you the time and hassle of traveling to different specialists.
Dental implants are a sophisticated tooth replacement option that involves surgical procedures, months of healing time, and several steps to complete. The entire dental implant procedure will vary greatly for each patient but typically takes about six months to a year to finish.
The Dental Implant Process at Chapel Hill Cosmetic and Family Dentistry
Initial Visit
During your initial visit, you will meet with Dr. Furgurson or Dr. White to determine if you qualify for dental implants. They will do a thorough evaluation of your mouth, review your medical history, and discuss your goals. To qualify for implants, you need to have enough jawbone density to support the implants and be in good health.
Additional Procedures
There are some circumstances where you may require additional treatment before the implant surgery. If your teeth have not already come out, they will need to be extracted. If you do not have enough bone density, we will suggest a bone will graft. Both of these procedures will require additional healing time.
Dental Implant Placement
Your oral surgery will take place in our Chapel Hill, NC dentist office. On the day of your surgery, you will be under general anesthesia for your comfort. It will take Dr. Furgurson about an hour to place one implant and several hours for multiple implants. We will send you home with aftercare instructions and instruct you to eat a soft diet for a few days. The implants will be left to heal and fuse with the jaw bone for about three to six months.
Abutment Placement
After the implants are fused with the bone, your dentist will put the abutments on the implant posts. This piece will sit right at the gum line and connect the titanium metal post to the dental restoration. This is a minor procedure and it should only take about two weeks for the soft tissues to heal afterwards. Next, we will take dental impressions and a dental lab will use them to fabricate your dental crown, dental bridge, or denture.
Dental Restoration Placement
Once we receive your new restoration from the dental lab, you will return to our Chapel Hill, NC dentist office for the final step in the implant process. Your dentist will attach your new replacement teeth and make sure they fit properly. Your new restoration will look and feel like natural teeth. We will communicate any specific care instructions with you.
Start Your Dental Implant Journey Today
To learn more about the dental implant process, schedule a consultation with Dr. Furgurson or Dr. White today at their Chapel Hill, NC dentist office. Here, they will do an examination and let you know if you qualify for dental implants. Our helpful staff is here to help you during every step of the process. Dental implants are the best option for tooth loss. This is the only treatment option that will support your long term oral health. They are the next best thing to natural teeth.