This is our most commonly asked of all FAQs.
The conventional process of delivering dental implants consists of the patient going from office to office in order to meet with all the specialists involved in the delivery of their new teeth. Oftentimes, difficulties in communication between all the specialists equated to excessive time involved on the patient’s behalf.

Our specialists realized that dental implants demanded a method of delivery that traditional dentistry could not provide. Having all the specialists in a single, state-of-the-art facility not only sets a higher standard of care but also makes it more convenient for the patient. Dedication to patient care and exceptional results resulted in the establishment of By Design Dental Implant Center.

We like to call the conventional process for receiving dental implants the “referral runaround,” which often results in more time, less accurate communication, and diminished results at a higher cost. A typical “referral runaround” looks something like this:

• You make an appointment with your dentist. Your dentist is probably someone you trust, someone who knows your dental history and has worked with you for years. But, when you need implants, chances are your dentist is going to refer you to a surgeon, who is more than likely a complete stranger to you.
• You will have an oral examination when you go to the surgeon, which will most likely result in another referral to a hospital or scan center to get a 3D scan.
• The CAT scan lab will send the 3D scan to the surgeon. The surgeon may also share the CAT scan with your dentist, and you may need a second appointment with the surgeon, your dentist, or both.
• Your dentist will contact a dental laboratory familiar with implant prostheses so they can make you a set of temporary teeth to wear while you heal.
• You go back to the oral surgeon to have the implants placed, but you still won’t have teeth.
• You make another trip to your dentist’s office so the temporary teeth can be secured to the implants and adjusted.
• Even more back and forth visits to the surgeon’s office and your dentist’s office for post-op checks and to fabricate the final set of teeth.

The idea of bringing the all the specialists to one state-of-the-art facility is based on the desire to make the process faster, more convenient, and less expensive for you. Everything and everyone you need to get your implants is right there when and where you need it. Working together as a team saves you time, trouble, and money.

You should find answers to the following questions:

• Does this provider have both a prosthodontist and an oral surgeon on-site that work as a team?
• Do they have an on-site lab so they can make your teeth and fit them to your implants quickly?
• Do they have highly trained staff to assist in placing your implants and securing your temporary and final teeth?
• Do they have a treatment navigator, someone who will stay with you through every step of the process?
• Do they have the most modern 3D CAT scanning equipment that allows your team to plan your treatment with great accuracy?
• Can you call one place if you have questions, or must you call different offices depending on the questions?
• Who is responsible for your treatment? Is there one provider, or can there be “finger pointing”?

An oral surgeon is the specialist who places your implants. This is a dental professional who has gone beyond the four-year dental school requirement to complete at least four more years of a surgical hospital residency. An oral surgeon is also trained in IV sedation so they can put patients into a comfortable “twilight sleep” that prevents patients from feeling pain and contributes to their comfort and relaxation.

A prosthodontist is a specialist in the restoration and replacement of teeth. These dental professionals are experts in every phase of all types of dental prosthetics including implant-supported teeth. A prosthodontist will have gone beyond the four-year dental school program and completed at least three additional years of training in the replacement of missing teeth and the restoration of natural teeth. They focus on full mouth reconstructions. The prosthodontist is the architect of your new teeth.

Yes! Together with our specialists, you will help design your new teeth. You are a critical part of decisions on the size, color, shape, and arrangement. The process of full arch replacement involves two sets of teeth:

• Provisional. This first set is attached to your implants and is not removable. This fixed provisional set will be fixed for at least three months as the implants heal. During this time, our specialists rely on you to make observations and take notes about what you like and don’t like about its function and aesthetics.
• Final. Based on your notes and observations, your input is key in the fabrication of the final set of teeth. You work with the entire team to ensure your expectations are met.

Our goal is to provide you with a new set of teeth that are just right for you, naturally fitting your face and personality. Your new teeth can restore a youthful and healthy appearance while allowing you to eat the foods you want.

We cater to your individual goals and desires to restore your smile to its natural form or even to create the smile you’ve always wanted but never had.

We understand that everyone experiences pain differently. When placing implants, the area being worked on is locally anesthetized. In addition, patients may select IV sedation and be in a “twilight sleep” during the entire procedure. After the procedure, many patients just use over-the-counter remedies to handle some mild discomfort. However, prescription pain medication is available whenever needed. Your comfort is a primary concern.

The answer is yes, you can! With advances in dental implants, procedures, components, and materials, what used to take eight months or more can now be accomplished in just one day. We can do this because much of the work to make your new teeth is completed before the implants are placed. The day of your procedure, your provisional set of teeth are retro-fitted to your implants and attached so they won’t come out. At By Design, it is possible to get a whole new set of beautiful teeth in just one day.

Yes! When you connect the implants together in the shape of an arch, the load or forces are distributed more evenly, making the stress to each implant significantly less. This is called “cross arch stabilization,” and is what makes it possible for your new dental implants to go to work for you immediately. While you can start eating food right away, you will be restricted to soft foods such as soup, eggs, pasta, fish, etc. until your final prosthesis is placed.