Your Guide To The Implant Tooth Process By St. Louis’ New You Smile

Understanding the implant tooth process helps you make confident choices about replacing missing teeth. This guide explains each step in clear terms, what to expect, who is a good candidate, and practical next steps. If you live near St. Louis, this post highlights how the implant tooth process in St. Louis is planned and delivered with modern technology for safer, more predictable results.

What is the implant tooth process?

The implant tooth process is a sequence of treatments that replaces a missing tooth (or teeth) with a titanium implant that bonds to your jaw, plus a custom crown or denture on top. The main goals are to restore chewing function, improve appearance, and protect long-term oral health by preserving bone and bite alignment.

Today’s dental tools — like 3D imaging, guided surgery, and digital impression scans — make the implant tooth process in St. Louis more predictable and comfortable than older methods. These technologies let clinicians plan precisely and reduce surprises during surgery.

Step-by-step: The implant tooth process

Consultation & digital planning

First, you’ll have a consultation where the dentist reviews your medical and dental history and answers questions about goals and expectations. 3D CBCT scans and intraoral scans create a detailed map of your jaw, nerves, and sinuses. This digital planning shows exactly where implants should go and supports a customized smile design. Accurate planning shortens surgery time and increases predictability for the implant tooth process in St. Louis.

Surgical implant placement

On the day of surgery, sedation options are available for comfort. Guided surgery or real-time navigation is often used so the implant is placed in the planned spot through a small incision. Most single implants take 30–60 minutes; more complex cases take longer. Many patients leave the same day with a temporary restoration so they aren’t without teeth during healing.

Healing and osseointegration

After placement, the bone grows around the implant in a process called osseointegration. This can take 3–6 months depending on the case. During healing you may have a temporary crown or denture. Normal healing includes mild swelling and soreness that fades in a few days. Warning signs to call your dentist include persistent severe pain, heavy bleeding, fever, or implant mobility — these may indicate infection or other complications.

Abutment and final crown/denture

Once the implant is fully integrated, the dentist attaches an abutment (connector) and takes final impressions or digital scans for your custom crown, bridge, or denture. Many practices with on-site labs can make restorations faster and more precise. The final prosthetic is checked for fit, bite, and appearance before it’s permanently placed.

Who is a good candidate and common risks

Good candidates for the implant tooth process typically have healthy gums, enough bone to support an implant, and stable medical conditions. People who smoke or have uncontrolled diabetes may need extra planning or to make lifestyle changes before treatment.

• Candidate factors: healthy gums, sufficient jawbone, controlled chronic conditions, willingness to follow care instructions.
• Common risks: infection, implant failure, nerve irritation, sinus issues (for upper implants). These are uncommon and can be reduced with careful digital planning and guided surgery.

Why choose New You Smile for your implant tooth process in St. Louis

New You Smile focuses exclusively on implant dentistry and treats the full implant tooth process in St. Louis from planning to final restoration. Dr. James Fetsch brings over 20 years of experience and nearly 30,000 implants placed, with fellowships in major implant organizations. That experience helps make outcomes more predictable and comfortable.

Key technologies and patient benefits include:

• On-site dental lab for faster, high-quality custom restorations
• 3D CBCT scanning and intraoral scanning for precise planning
• X-Nav guided surgery for real-time implant navigation
• RAYFace facial scanning and smile design for natural-looking results
• Sedation options and a private surgical suite for comfort and safety

If you’re ready to learn how the implant tooth process in St. Louis can restore your smile, schedule a consultation at New You Smile. A team member will review your case, show your 3D plan, and outline clear next steps so you know exactly what to expect.