Dental implants make it easier for people who’ve suffered tooth loss due to decay, injury, or periodontal disease to do essential tasks like eating and talking. It involves a surgery where metal and screwlike posts are implanted into the jawbone to serve as the foundation for artificial teeth. With that, one of the most common questions asked about the matter is, “how long does it take to get a dental implant?”
This operation involves many factors to ensure every patient gets the right dental implants for them. As such, the timeline ranges from 5 to 10 months, depending on every patient’s needs. The time frame might be longer for others if the tooth was extracted due to infection as the roots need to heal first. For an overview, listed below are the steps in a dental implant procedure.
Initial Examination
This is the stage where your dentist initially examines your dental health to understand its overall condition. It involves reviewing your medical history for any underlying conditions like cancer or diabetes that may affect your recovery. X-rays and scans are also part of this process, as your jawbone structure needs to be checked for your dentist to formulate a suitable treatment plan.
Surgery and Bone Fusion
Bone fusion is done by placing a titanium implant in the area of the missing tooth or teeth. This typically lasts from one to two hours for every implant. Afterward, your dentist will tell you to wait for three to six months to allow your implants to integrate into the jawbone, otherwise known as osseointegration. These will serve as the roots for your artificial teeth.
Abutment Placement
After your gums and jawbone have healed, the dentist will place an abutment on the implant. An abutment is a socket-shaped element that will connect the implant to your dental crown. This is a less invasive yet crucial procedure as it is responsible for holding your artificial teeth in place. Once that’s done, you will have to wait around two to six weeks for your gums to heal. This will also serve as the time for the dentist to create your custom-fitted crown.
Crown Attachment
This is the final stage of the overall implant procedure. It involves attaching your ceramic crown or artificial teeth using dental cement to the upper end of the abutment. At this point, your dentist will check your bite and the appearance of your teeth to ensure that everything is aligned correctly.
Consult Your Dentist
In general, the timeline for an implant procedure differs for every patient. So, for answers to questions like, “how long does it take to get a dental implant?” it’s better to consult a local dentist. Contact Affordable Smiles for more information about dental implants. Our dental offices in Hammond, Gretna, and Baton Rouge are equipped with experts ready to assist you.