You’re excited about the possibility of dental implants, but want to make sure you cover all the major talking points during your consultation. “Any little detail could be important,” you might be thinking. There’s some truth to that. It’s reassuring to have a more concrete idea of what will happen!
Let’s take the fluffy concept of a consultation and break it down into a solid timeline. Once you know what to expect, it’ll be easier to prepare!
#1. Meet and Greet Your Dentist
First, you’ll greet your dentist. It might seem obvious enough to skip over, but it’s important to feel comfortable with the person who will be placing your implants! Plus, you don’t want to rush. That’s how you’ll end up forgetting to ask questions or bring up concerns. Use the “small talk” as an opportunity to slow down, relax, get to know your dentist, and put yourself into the right mind space for focusing on your treatment.
#2. Discuss Your Dental Implant Expectations
After some back and forth, your dentist will want to understand your replacement goals. Are you looking for a full set of dental implants, or just to fill in one or two gaps? What about dental implants interested you most? Convenience? Improved aesthetics? Stability? All of these things will factor into your treatment plan, so be honest!
#3. Review Your Health History and Prepare to Be Scanned
Dental implants have an incredibly high success rate, but that’s because dentists are thorough in examining your oral situation. They’ll want an overview of your health history, especially as it relates to your teeth. Keep in mind that a dental consultation is a judgement-free zone. If your oral care hasn’t been ideal, that’s okay! Your dentist just wants to ensure that your treatment goes smoothly.
This means your dentist will also take special scans of your mouth. They’re basically looking for the best way to place your implant during treatment, and whether you’ll need a bone graft or other preparation before placement.
#4. Strategize Your Dental Implant Game Plan
At this point you and your dentist should have a pretty good idea of what you can reasonably accomplish with dental implants. It’s time to start planning! Your dentist will lay out your treatment options, and together you’ll create a custom-made process and schedule that works best for you.
#5. Wrap-Up Your Dental Implant Consultation with a Q&A
Of course, you can ask questions at any point during your consultation. But your dentist will give you another opportunity to digest all the information. If you wrote out a list of questions beforehand, go ahead and give them a final once-over. Once you feel confident with the details of your dental implant treatment, that’s it! You’ve made it to the end of your consultation.
Communicating with your dentist is a great way to ease any treatment anxieties. In the case of dental implants, a consultation is absolutely necessary! Remember that this meeting is for your benefit, so don’t hesitate to ask questions or raise concerns. If you do forget something, give your dentist a call. They’ll be happy to support you!
About the Author
Dr. Jeff Lee is an accomplished oral surgeon, especially when it comes to dental implants! He’s presented original research on the subject and has even earned a specialized degree. If you have questions or concerns about dental implant treatment, he’s definitely the guy to call. To schedule a consultation, contact his office at 740-236-9392. For more information about Dr. Lee and his practice, explore his website.