The 4-Step Dental Implant Process
The dental implant process takes course over several months, starting with a consultation with Dr. Sanker. During your initial visit, we’ll determine whether you’re a good candidate for the procedure and put together a detailed timeline so that you know what to expect. Thanks to his advanced training as a prosthodontist, Dr. Sanker can conveniently perform every step of the dental implant treatment process right here in our office! Each patient’s journey looks a little different, but here are the four basic steps of the process:
Initial Dental Implant Consultation

The first step of your dental implant process will be your consultation. During your appointment, Dr. Sanker will take several images of your mouth and facial structure and ask you questions about your overall health and oral habits. This will help him determine whether you’re a good candidate for the procedure. Your consultation is also a good opportunity to get any questions that you have answered.
Working together, we’ll determine the desires you have for your restored smile and discuss any possible limitations with you. If you’re a good candidate for dental implants, we’ll walk you through a step-by-step treatment timeline. Some of our patients need preparatory procedures such as bone grafting, sinus lifts, and periodontal therapy before we can schedule their implant placement, while others can have their implants inserted right away.
Dental Implant Surgery

Dr. Robert J. Sanker is a specialist in prosthodontics and is able to insert your implants from the comfort of our own office. That way, you won’t have to travel between specialists and deal with inconvenient communication gaps. The surgery itself is minimally invasive and virtually pain-free, thanks to sedation and local anesthetic. In fact, many of our patients are able to return to their daily routines the very next day.
Dr. Sanker will make a small incision in your gums and gently insert the implants at strategically planned locations in your jawbone. Once the incisions are closed, you’ll begin your healing and osseointegration process which will take place over the next few months.
Dental Implant Osseointegration/Abutment

Once your implants have been placed, they will naturally fuse with your jawbone through a process called osseointegration. This is one of the most important parts of the procedure, considering it’s what provides your restorations with a strong and sturdy foundation to be attached to. Once the osseointegration process has finished, we will place your abutments. These are small connector pieces that we attach to your implants to secure your dental crown, bridge, or denture.
Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations

The final and most anticipated part of the process will be your restoration placement. Your implant dentist in Rockville will call you in for your final appointment when we receive your custom-crafted replacement teeth. We’ll check to make sure that they’re created to our specifications and attach them to your abutments, revealing exquisite and natural-looking results.
Once everything is said and done, you’ll be glad to know you invested your time and money into a beautiful, durable, and strong tooth replacement solution that can last over 35 years with the proper care.