You’ve always been organized and tried to plan out your schedule to make sure you get everything done. When it comes time to replace your missing tooth with an implant, you wonder—how long does the dental implant process take? How will your implant impact the rest of your schedule? In this post, you’ll learn about the steps of implant treatment and what you can expect from each step.
Consultation
Before you can begin the process of getting a single dental implant, you need to have a consultation with your dentist. This appointment allows them to examine your mouth with a CT 3D scan to make sure your jawbone is strong enough, and you can ask any questions you may have. If necessary, a bone graft may be scheduled. During this visit, you can also typically get a general estimate for the cost and a timeline for how long the rest of the process will take.
The Implant Placement Procedure
How long the post placement procedure itself takes depends on how many implants you’re getting and where they are located in your mouth. Remember that the post is being inserted into the jawbone. However, from start to finish for a single implant, you should be done within a couple of hours. For at least 24 hours afterward, you should limit your activity, take care of the surgical site, and eat soft foods. After seven days, the sutures can be removed, but until then you’ll need to chew lightly in that area.
Osseointegration
Once the post has been put into position in the jawbone, you must wait for an important process called osseointegration, which is what gives stability and strength to your new teeth. During the three to six months following your placement procedure, your jawbone will grow and surround the implant, just as it does with natural tooth roots.
Abutment Placement
When the jawbone is finished enveloping the implant post, your implant needs to have the first abutment placed. This piece helps to form the gums and serves as a placeholder for the final abutment and restoration. The procedure is fairly simple: a small incision in the gums will expose the post, and the abutment will be attached. After the gum tissue has healed, you’ll be ready for a restoration.
Implant Restoration
At this point, restoring implants is much like getting a normal dental crown. You’ll need to have impressions taken so that the dental lab can create your custom, natural-looking crown or bridge. A few weeks later, your dentist will remove the first abutment, attach the permanent abutment, and bond the restoration to your implant, providing you with permanent prosthetic teeth.
Ultimately, the overall process may feel long, but keep in mind that you are laying the groundwork for a lifetime of smiles. In addition to not having to replace your teeth every few years like you do with traditional dentures or bridges, you can enjoy a stronger biting force, a more youthful profile, and many other benefits that you can’t get any other way. The time it takes is well worth the wait!
About the Author
Dr. Joanne Bancroft has been practicing dentistry for nearly two decades now. In 2019, she was named in the Top 3 Dentists in Westminster and one of the Top Dentists in Colorado by 5280 in 2020. After earning her dental degree, she completed a general practice residency at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine, and she continues to build her knowledge and experience through advanced training. If you have questions about dental implants in Westminster, you can contact Dr. Bancroft at J.B. Dental’s website.