Wouldn’t it be great if getting dental implants were as straightforward as going in for one appointment and coming out with a brand-new smile?
Someday, hopefully, that’ll be a reality. For now though, the treatment is a multi-step process—one that often starts with important preliminary procedures, or “pre-treatments”.
These lay the groundwork for a successful outcome and can make all the difference when it comes to the stability, comfort, and long-term success of your implants, so it’s valuable to have at least a basic understanding of them.
Maybe you’re the type who likes to walk into your consultation armed with a bit of background knowledge, so you know what to expect and what questions to ask.
Or perhaps you’ve already had that initial conversation and now find yourself puzzling over a wave of new terms, trying to piece together what it all means and how it might affect your treatment timeline or budget.
Whichever camp you fall into, getting familiar with these early steps can help you feel more confident and better prepared as you go through your dental implant journey!
So, let’s break down what these common pre-treatments are, when they’re necessary, what they might cost, and how they could influence the overall process.
When you’re considering dental implants, it’s natural to be most focused on the final outcome: a smile that’s strong and whole again.
But, like we mentioned earlier, many patients need to complete “pre-treatments” before their new teeth can be placed.
Just being aware of these kinds of pre-treatments is incredibly important. It helps you prepare not just the finances around your smile restoration, but also some of the mental, emotional, and even practical aspects like appointment scheduling.
To show what that looks like in practice, let’s consider the situation of an imaginary dental implants patient named Margaret.
Let’s say Margaret, a 62-year-old retiree, has been looking forward to replacing her missing molars - the big teeth at the back of the mouth - with dental implants.
She’s done her homework on the implant process, saved up, and set aside time for appointments. In the back of her mind, she’s even started to plan out a list of restaurants she’s going to visit to “test drive” her new teeth.
But when she goes in for her initial consultation, her dentist explains that she’ll need a few extra steps before getting the implants. Because of some bone loss in her upper jaw, Margaret’s dentist recommends a bone graft and a sinus lift to make sure the implants have a strong foundation.
These additional procedures will mean extra appointments, a few months of healing time, and more expenses—none of which she was expecting.
Margaret suddenly feels overwhelmed.
She’d thought she was ready to dive right in, and now she’s staring down a whole list of uncertainties wondering if she’s even up for implants at all anymore. Those restaurants she was going to tour feel like they’re a lifetime away.
But it didn’t have to be like this: if Margaret had known about these pre-treatments upfront, she could have been more prepared—financially, mentally, and even emotionally.
Of course, Margaret is just an imaginary example, but the situation described here is quite common. It shows how something as simple as being aware of the complete journey, including pre-treatments, can really make a difference between feeling blindsided and feeling ready.
Let’s take a closer look at the most common pre-treatments.
For each one, we’ll outline:
Having a firm understanding of each step will help you feel more informed and confident as you move forward with your dental implant treatment.
What is it?
Sometimes, before an implant can be placed, one or more teeth need to be removed. Tooth extraction involves carefully removing a tooth that’s damaged, decayed, or otherwise unsuitable for a simple restoration.
When’s it needed?
There are a couple of situations. One - if a tooth can’t be saved, or its structure is too weak, extraction might be necessary to prepare for an implant. Additionally, any teeth with severe infection or decay could potentially compromise the new implant if left in place.
Two - if you’re receiving complete replacement for your upper or bottom row of teeth, or even your entire mouth, any remaining teeth will need to be extracted to accommodate a denture-like implant.
How much is it?
Extractions vary widely in cost depending on complexity, generally ranging from $75 to $300 per tooth. For a more complicated surgical extraction (where the tooth is impacted), costs can rise up to $600.
How much time does it add?
After an extraction, the site generally needs time to heal, often between 6-12 weeks, depending on your individual healing rate and the tooth’s location. Healing time ensures that any inflammation is reduced and the bone is ready for further treatment, like grafting or the implant itself.
What is it?
Bone grafting is a process of adding bone material to areas of the jaw that might not be strong or thick enough to support an implant. In some cases, bone from a different part of your body (like the hip or chin) might be used; more commonly, synthetic materials are introduced to stimulate natural bone growth.
When’s it needed?
If your jawbone has deteriorated—often due to long-term tooth loss, injury, or gum (periodontal) disease—bone grafting is typically necessary to provide a strong base for the implant. Without sufficient bone, the implant could fail or become unstable over time.
How much is it?
Bone grafting costs can vary based on the complexity, ranging from $250 for a minor graft to $3,000 or more for extensive grafting involving several areas of the jaw.
How much time does it add?
Bone grafting can add several months to the implant process. In minor cases, the graft may take as little as 4-6 weeks to integrate with your natural bone; however, for more extensive grafts, healing might require 3-6 months to reach the density needed for a stable implant.
What is it?
Periodontal (gum) therapy addresses any existing gum disease, which could otherwise threaten the success of a dental implant. This treatment ranges from a deep cleaning, called scaling and root planing, to more advanced surgical options if the gum disease is severe.
When’s it needed?
Healthy gums are essential for any dental procedure, especially implants, as gum disease can cause bone loss and other complications. If you have signs of gum disease—like bleeding, swelling, or discomfort—periodontal therapy will likely be recommended before moving forward with the implant process.
How much is it?
The cost of periodontal therapy varies based on the level of disease and treatment required. Deep cleaning sessions may cost around $200-$300 per quadrant (one quarter of the mouth), while more extensive periodontal surgery can range from $500 to $5,000.
How much time does it add?
Following periodontal therapy, patients may need a few weeks to ensure that the gums are stable. In many cases, however, the healing process is on the shorter side, around 2-4 weeks, as long as the treatment is completed before especially severe gum disease has taken root.
What is it?
A sinus lift, also called sinus augmentation, is a surgical procedure to raise the sinus floor and create space for additional bone material in the upper jaw. This procedure is typically recommended for patients who need implants in the back upper jaw, where the bone is often thinner and close to the sinus cavity.
When’s it needed?
For patients with insufficient bone height in the upper jaw, especially in the area of the molars and premolars, a sinus lift might be necessary to create enough room for a stable implant.
How much is it?
Sinus lifts can be costly due to their complexity, often ranging between $1,500 and $3,000, depending on the amount of bone grafting required.
How much time does it add?
This procedure usually requires a longer healing period, ranging from 4-9 months. During this time, the bone graft integrates with your natural bone, ensuring it’s stable enough to support an implant in this delicate area.
What is it?
Ridge augmentation is a procedure that restores the natural contour of the gums and jawbone, which may have shrunk due to tooth loss or trauma. It involves placing bone graft material to build up the area and prepare it for the implant.
When’s it needed?
After losing a tooth, the jawbone can sometimes diminish in both height and width. Ridge augmentation may be recommended to rebuild these areas, providing a natural contour to support the implant effectively.
How much is it?
Ridge augmentation can cost between $600 and $1,200, depending on the extent of the augmentation required.
How much time does it add?
Healing time for ridge augmentation can vary but typically ranges between 4-6 months, during which the new bone material integrates with the surrounding tissue. This period ensures that the implant will have the best possible stability and appearance.
What if you need more than one pre-treatment?
While it might feel overwhelming at first, having multiple pre-treatments is a common part of the dental implants process.
Each pre-treatment serves a specific purpose, and sometimes it takes a few different steps to fully prepare your mouth for the implant procedure. For instance, you may need both a bone graft and a tooth extraction, or perhaps a sinus lift paired with periodontal therapy.
Here’s the good news: your dental team will coordinate these treatments to make things as smooth as possible. Some pre-treatments can be done during the same appointment, or at least within a close timeframe, while others may need a few months of healing in between.
Your dentist will help plan out each step so that healing times are minimized, and they’ll keep you informed about how each stage brings you closer to getting those implants successfully placed.
There’s no denying that having to go through a couple (or more) treatments just to get to the one you want can be frustrating.
But at the end of the day, it’s all about giving your implants the best chance to last a lifetime.
Large-scale studies show that, when properly prepared, placed, and cared for, 94% of dental implants lasted for 15 years or more. So, by ensuring you have strong bones and healthy gums, your dentist is investing in the long-term success of your new smile, which means fewer complications and a much more stable result down the line.
With a team of six experienced Port Coquitlam dentists, we’re proud to be able to offer complete pre-treatment for dental implants.
People love the convenience and continuity of care they get by working with one clinic.
In most cases, instead of having to travel all over Metro Vancouver for multiple consultations and treatments, you can get everything you need for dental implants taken care of right here with us, from diagnostics and pre-treatments to temporary teeth and permanent crowns.
The first step is to book a consultation. Get in touch with us by calling (604) 474-2510 or by sending us a message online.
