Maybe you’ve been hiding your smile in photos, or chewing on one side of your mouth for months. Whatever brought you here, implant care usually includes consultation and planning, implant placement, healing, and a final crown, bridge, or denture. The sequence and timing depend on the treatment you need and how you heal.
At Deep River Family Dental, Dr. George Kwon, DMD, leads a doctor-guided approach to dental implants. Dr. Kwon has placed more than 4,000 dental implants throughout his career, and we offer a free implant consultation so you can ask questions before you decide on anything.
Your Consultation and Treatment Planning Visit
Your first visit feels more like a conversation than a procedure. Dr. Kwon reviews your medical and dental history, looks at your bite, gums, and existing dental work, and listens to what you want from your smile. We also talk about health factors, such as chronic illness or tobacco use, because they may slow healing. This is the starting point of our Built to Last Protocol: understanding how your bite, jaw joints, muscles, bone, gums, and existing dental work function together. We identify concerns that could affect treatment, explain your options, and plan any steps needed to establish a stable foundation. When temporary restorations are part of treatment, they help us evaluate comfort, bite, and appearance before the final teeth are made. Your care also includes a plan for ongoing maintenance.
We also use 3D imaging to see the bone where your implant may go. This scan helps us assess the bone, map the best position for each implant, and identify early whether bone grafting or a sinus lift may be part of your plan. Our team walks you through the findings in plain language so you know what comes next.
Implant Placement and Healing
Placement is the surgical step of the implant process. During this step, we place a small post, usually made of titanium, in your jawbone to act as a tooth root. If you feel nervous, ask us about your sedation options, including nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation, and IV sedation at our Deep River office.
Healing comes next, and it takes some patience. The bone around the implant grows and holds it in place through a process called osseointegration, and some patients need to wait several months before we attach replacement teeth. For a single implant or implant bridge, our usual follow-up is at 10–14 days. We typically evaluate healing and take the digital scan at about three months, if the implant is ready. Cases involving a sinus lift may need 6–10 months before the final crown is placed. These are estimates; your treatment plan and healing determine the timing.
Full-arch (AOX) treatment follows a different schedule. Fixed temporary teeth can often be placed at surgery while the implants continue to heal before the final bridge is made. Temporary teeth do not mean healing is complete. Our AOX instructions call for a strict soft-food diet for at least three months, with follow-up visits and adjustments as needed. Your team will explain the diet, cleaning, and activity instructions that apply to your treatment.
What Happens After Healing?
Once healing has been evaluated and your implants are ready, we move on to your final crown, bridge, or denture. The type of replacement teeth is planned with you during your consultation.
Your Custom Crown
For a single missing tooth, we take digital impressions so we can design your crown for the right size, shape, color, and fit. The crown is made to blend in with the teeth around it, and a temporary tooth may be used while your permanent crown is made.
Options for Replacing Multiple Teeth
Implants can also support several teeth, and the right choice depends on your bone, your bite, and your goals. Dr. Kwon may discuss one of these options with you:
- Implant-supported bridges: A bridge supported by implants can replace several missing teeth in a row.
- Snap-in options: Snap-in implant dentures attach a full set of replacement teeth to implants for added stability. You remove the denture for daily cleaning.
- All-on-4: All-on-4 dental implants support a full arch of fixed teeth on four implants. Other full-arch (AOX) plans may use a different number of implants based on your clinical needs. You do not remove a fixed bridge at home.
We review each option at your consultation so you can choose the plan that fits your mouth and comfort level.
Cost, Financing, and Insurance
Cost is a fair question to ask early, and we encourage it. Our free implant consultation gives you time to review your plan and ask about dental implant costs.
We accept HSA and FSA payments, offer payment plans, and work with third-party financing options. We work with many insurance plans and financing options, so you can plan your costs before treatment begins.
Take the First Step Toward a Stronger Smile at Deep River Family Dental
Dental implant care begins with a clear plan, from your first visit through your final teeth and ongoing maintenance. Dr. Kwon holds a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from Boston University and has advanced training in implant placement, bone grafting, and full-arch therapy. He leads our team at a doctor-owned family practice, and we hold a 5.0-star rating from more than 90 Google reviews.
Our approach is built on the belief that great dentistry should not need to be redone, which is why we say Dentistry Built to Last. If you are ready to learn what implants may look like for you, contact our office to schedule your free consultation.