If you have any missing teeth, then your dentist may recommend that you have dental implants replace them. This will give you the appearance of a full smile once again and ensure that eating is not so difficult for you. Here's what you can expect during the process of a dental implant appointment:

How Much Time it Will Take

A typical single dental implant takes about an hour or two. This includes the time that it takes for the anesthesia to kick in, as well. So if you have more than one implant, you may have to schedule multiple appointments or expect to be there for longer than two hours.

There are a few factors that come into play when determining how long a dental implant surgery will take. For example, the time it takes depends on your oral health, the number of implants that are being received, and where the dental implants are going to be located in the mouth.

The Amount of Pain

Just as with any surgery, you may experience some pain. However, anesthesia is used to help make you as comfortable as possible and in some cases, because of the anesthesia, you may not feel anything at all. There also can be discomfort and pain after the surgery, but typically your dentist will prescribe you some medications to ensure that this can be eliminated as much as possible. 

What to do Before

Sometimes, your dentist may provide you with some specific instructions to follow the day before the surgery or the day of. For example, you may be asked to fast, which means that you will have the procedure done under IV, which also means that you must bring someone with you to drive you to the appointment and to drive you home.

This is because you won't be in the right state of mind after the surgery to be able to drive home safely. Also, you may be asked to take some antibiotics before the surgery or to rinse your mouth heavily with some prescribed dental mouthwash. 

By knowing what to expect when you are getting ready to receive dental implants, you can feel more comfortable about the whole process. Calming your nerves and ensuring that you are prepared is going to help the surgery move as smoothly as possible, thus ensuring that you are happy with the results of the surgery in the end.