How Long Do Dental Implants Take?
If you are missing one or several teeth and are considering, it is important to be aware that, although an implant can typically be placed within one to two hours, the process itself can take several months to complete. There are a range of factors that can impact total treatment time, such as the severity of your case, whether a dental bone graft is necessary, as well as your body’s natural healing process.
The dental implant process will begin with an initial evaluation, during which your periodontist will examine your teeth and overall oral health to determine whether a tooth needs to be extracted, or, if the tooth has fallen out for any reason other than trauma, to determine the underlying issue. Once this has been determined, it may be necessary to take an X-Ray to assess the overall health of your jawbone and ensure that there is enough jawbone material to support a dental implant.
If the X-Ray indicates that the jawbone has deteriorated to the point it is no longer able to adequately hold an implant, an appointment for a dental bone graft will be scheduled. After making an incision in your gums, grafting material is placed over the area that has degraded. Once in place, the area is sutured shut and allowed time to heal, which typically takes between 3-6 months. Once there is sufficient bone available, the implant procedure can be performed.
Prior to placement of the titanium posts, you will be given a local anesthetic and dental sedation if necessary. Next, the implants are surgically placed into your jawbone, where they will remain for the next three to six months, during which the jawbone will slowly fuse with the posts through a process known as osseointegration. Once this process is complete, your gums will be reopened to expose the dental implants, and an abutment is attached. Once properly attached, the gum tissue is sutured shut and the area is given time to heal, which usually takes one to two weeks. Following this, a dental crown designed to match the look and feel of your natural teeth is placed, after which the dental implant procedure will be complete and you can begin the healing process.
Aftercare Following Dental Implants
Because the dental implant process takes place over several months and requires several visits, it is important to follow aftercare instructions after each part of the procedure to ensure the success of your implants and speed up your recovery time. During the initial healing stage, swelling can be reduced with icepacks, and mild discomfort can be reduced with over the counter pain relieving medications. If any of these symptoms become worse, contact your periodontist.
In addition to adhering to any unique post-procedural instructions from your periodontist, it is also important to continue practicing good oral hygiene habits, such as brushing and flossing your teeth twice daily and scheduling regular appointments for periodontal maintenance, especially if the underlying reason a dental implant was necessary was due to periodontal disease. If you follow these best practices, you will extend the life of your dental implant and avoid developing similar issues in the future.
