Your Implant Journey

YOUR INITIAL DENTAL IMPLANT CONSULTATION

Welcome to the Campbell Clinic! We're excited to have you here.

We want to give you an overview of what you can expect when you visit us for assistance with any problems you may be experiencing. We'll take you through the typical journey a patient takes when receiving care at our clinic, including important points to keep in mind. It's important to note that while this represents a typical pathway, there may be certain circumstances, such as emergencies, that may cause the path to change. However, we hope this gives you a good idea of what it's like to receive care at The Campbell Clinic.

1. Consultation and Treatment Planning

At The Campbell Clinic, our top priority is getting to know you and your unique dental needs. That’s why our first step is always a thorough consultation and comprehensive clinical assessment. During these appointments, which typically last between 45 minutes to an hour, we will take photographs of the inside of your mouth and, if necessary, x-rays, intraoral scans, or a CBCT, which is a three-dimensional x-ray of your mouth to get a full understanding of your dental health.
But before we dive into your dental needs, we’ll take some time to chat with you and get to know you better. We’ll ask about your occupation, any medical conditions, and your goals for treatment. Then, we’ll perform a clinical mapping of your mouth to check for issues, such as oral cancer, biting problems, or soft tissue issues.
We take this process seriously and never rush it, especially if your case is complex. In these instances, we may even request additional time to review your case with our Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) to ensure we provide you with the best possible treatment plan.
Once we have all the necessary information, we will present you with a clear and manageable treatment plan that outlines options, timelines, costs, and guarantees. We understand that too many options can be overwhelming, so we use our advanced cloud-based clinical system to present treatment plans that can be easily viewed and considered.
Our treatment planning process includes mock-ups of your treatment, which you can even try on in your own mouth, as well as full plans for treatment. We start the process with a visit to one of our clinical nurse specialists who can collect some of the necessary information before we discuss things with you.
We also offer the convenience of discussing your options via phone or Zoom video call, which can be recorded for your safety and convenience. Once you're ready to move forward, we can turn your treatment plan into a clinical treatment plan and start providing you with the care you need to achieve a healthy, beautiful smile.

2. Dental Implant Placement

We understand that undergoing surgery can be a daunting experience, which is why we make sure you're well-informed and comfortable every step of the way. During the dental implant placement appointment, our team will use local anaesthetic or local anaesthetic with sedation to ensure that the implant is placed safely and securely into your mouth.

The length of the procedure can vary, depending on the complexity of the treatment, and can range from 60 minutes to eight hours. In some cases, bone grafting procedures may be required, which can be done using bone from a bottle to save you from additional discomfort. Stitches will be involved, and you can expect mild pain, discomfort, and swelling afterward.
We'll provide you with all the necessary advice before and after the procedure, including any medication you need to take to ensure a speedy recovery. Our team has carefully measured patients' outcomes and experiences following implant placement, and we've found that patients are generally very positive about the procedure.
Following the appointment, we'll give you a call the next day to check in and make sure you're comfortable and healing well. We're here to support you throughout your treatment and recovery, so don't hesitate to let us know if you need further assistance.

3. Review

When undergoing a treatment plan such as dental implant treatment, it's important to understand that short review appointments will be necessary. These appointments are brief in duration, but they play a crucial role in ensuring that the treatment is progressing as planned and that there are no issues that need to be addressed.

During these review appointments, we will examine your progress and make sure that everything is going smoothly. It's typical for us to schedule a suture removal appointment as well, as we prefer to have control over when the stitches come out rather than leaving it up to nature. While some patients may be concerned that these appointments are too short, they're actually the best kind of appointments to have. If everything is going well, there's no need for us to do anything other than reassure you that everything is on track.
Overall, review appointments are a critical part of the treatment process. They allow us to keep an eye on your progress, catch any potential problems before they become serious issues, and give you peace of mind that your treatment is proceeding as planned. So, rest assured that these appointments are a necessary and valuable part of your dental implant treatment plan.

4. The Healing Period

After the placement of dental implants or any surgical aspect of dental implant treatment, it's crucial to let your body heal and for nature to take its course. This healing process typically lasts from around 6 to 12 weeks, but the duration may vary depending on your unique circumstances. Rest assured, we will always be upfront and honest with you about the healing period and what to expect. We understand that you may want to proceed as quickly and safely as possible, but our top priority is ensuring your well-being and making sure that everything has settled and healed before proceeding to the next stage. If you experience any issues during the healing period, don't hesitate to contact us via phone or email, and we will promptly address any concerns or necessary treatments.

5. The Restoration Period

Once the healing phase is complete and the surgical aspect of dental implant treatment is done, patients enter the restorative phase. This is a detailed and complex stage of the treatment, and it's essential to proceed carefully to achieve the best possible results with the longest lifespan. Although some may think it's a straightforward process, it's crucial to execute it properly. The restorative phase typically begins with an exposure appointment, where we uncover the implants under the gum. This involves a minor local anaesthetic procedure, identifying the implants, removing the lid on top, and replacing it with a longer healing cap.

Afterward, the area needs to heal for a week or two before we take impressions or intraoral scans to create models of the mouth and start designing the final crowns. Sometimes, we can move directly from impressions to fitting the new restorations. However, there's often a try-in phase to ensure the dentist and the patient are entirely satisfied with the overall outcome. We're happy to go through this process to deliver precisely what our patients need.
At this stage, it's crucial to take great care, particularly if we intend to guarantee the implants and restorations for an extended period. We take great care to ensure this is the case and that we can provide you with the best possible care.

6. Maintenance

Proper maintenance is key to ensuring the success of complex dental procedures, especially dental implant treatment. At our practice, we prioritise hygiene even before treatment begins. That's why we require all our patients to meet with our exceptional hygiene team first to ensure that their mouth is as clean as possible and that they can maintain excellent oral hygiene throughout the procedure.

During this initial visit, our hygiene team will evaluate your mouth's current condition and recommend any necessary work to be done prior to treatment. They will also explain what to expect in terms of maintenance after your treatment is complete.
Post-treatment maintenance is crucial for the long-term success of your dental implants. Our hygienists will carefully clean your implants during hour-long appointments and monitor for any developing problems or issues. Research shows that this type of maintenance is one of the best ways to keep your implants healthy over time. In fact, we have considerable data that demonstrates the success of our maintenance service, with very low incidences of peri-implant disease, which can occur when maintenance is neglected.
The frequency of maintenance visits will vary depending on the number of implants, the complexity of your case, and your individual risk factors such as poor oral hygiene, diabetes, or smoking. Our compassionate hygienists will make sure you are comfortable throughout your visits and will provide x-rays and photographs when needed to help with their assessment. If any significant problems arise, our hygienists can quickly refer you to our clinical dental team for additional support.
Remember, proper hygiene maintenance is essential to maintaining the five- and ten-year guarantees that may be appropriate for your dental implants. So, trust our team to help you maintain optimal oral health and ensure the long-term success of your dental implant treatment.

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Our brand-new patient journey

Your journey here with us at The Campbell Clinic!

We are so excited to share our brand-new patient journey video with you all! Making our patients feel as comfortable as possible is at the heart of everything we do along with delivering the highest standard of dental care.

FAQs

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