Overview of Dental Implant Placement

What Are Dental Implants?

Drs. Moya & Maida explain dental implants, the placement process and recovery.
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The Surgical Procedure




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Who Actually Performs The Implant Placement?

Dental Implants are a team effort between an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon and a Restorative Dentist. While Dr. Moya and Dr. Maida perform the actual implant surgery, and initial tooth extractions with bone grafting if necessary, the restorative dentist (your dentist) fits and makes the permanent prosthesis. Your dentist will also make any temporary prosthesis needed during the implant process.

Drs. Moya and Maida perform in-office implant surgery in a hospital-style operating suite, thus optimizing the level of sterility. He uses only the latest and most innovative techniques to assure your well-being and the overall success of your procedure. Inpatient hospital implant surgery is for patients who have special medical or anesthetic needs or for those who need extensive bone grafting from the skull, hip or tibia.

What Type Of Anesthesia Is Used?

The majority of dental implant procedures can be accomplished in the office under local anesthesia. More complex or extensive procedures i.e. (multiple implants) may require some form of intravenous sedation or perhaps general anesthesia. Drs. Moya and Maida will be happy to discuss your specific case at the time of consultation so together you will find what is comfortable and right for you.

Dental Implant Surgery Houston, TX

For most patients, the placement of dental implants involves only one or two surgical procedures. First, implants are gently placed within your jawbone in a short and easy procedure. The implant/implants are then covered with the gum tissue and some dis-solvable sutures placed. For the first three months following surgery, the implants lie beneath the surface of the gums undisturbed gradually bonding with the jawbone. You will be able to wear a temporary prosthesis during this time. YOU WILL NEVER BE WITHOUT TEETH WHILE UNDERGOING IMPLANT TREATMENT.

After the implant has fused to the jawbone, Drs. Moya and Maida will uncover the implants and attach small temporary posts to condition the tissues. These temporary posts protrude through the gums. Your dentist then will then replace the temporary posts with permanent ones and attach the final teeth to them. While the final teeth are being build YOU WILL BE ABLE TO WEAR your temporary prosthesis. When the final teeth are placed these permanent posts will not be seen. The entire procedure usually takes less than 6 months and is some cases only a few weeks. Most patients experience minimal disruption in their daily life during the process.


A depiction of the upper jaw with all normal teeth
1. Normal
2. Tooth Loss
A representation of a healed upper jaw bone after losing a tooth
3. Healed Bone
4. Implant Placed
5. Healing
An example of a fully restored tooth using a dental implant
6. Implant Restored

The Healing Phase





Dental Implants Presentation


When Are Dental Implants Placed?



How Many Implants Do I Need?

