Dental implants are an attraction option for individuals with missing or severely damaged teeth. They seamlessly replace the extracted teeth, making the patient’s smile look complete again. Dental implants in Palm Beach Gardens can give you confidence and improve oral health.
However, some people have reservations about the procedure due to its invasiveness and recovery time. How long does a dental implant procedure take? What can you expect during the recovery period? Mark L. Civin, D.D.S., addresses these questions below.
Before the Procedure
First, your dentist will schedule a dental exam to ensure your candidacy for the procedure. They’ll check your oral health and examine your jaws and gum tissues. Certain complications may impact a person’s candidacy for the procedure. Once they’ve determined if you’re eligible for the dental implant process, your dentist will explain everything you should know about the procedure.
In some cases, your dentist will recommend bone grafting to strengthen the jaw bone. This will require an extra procedure and more recovery time.
The Implant Procedure
Dentists will expedite the process for individuals who qualify for same-day implants. Following the exam, the dentist will spend an hour or two surgically implanting the titanium screw. This screw serves as the base for the full implant, connecting it to the jaw.
If you need multiple implants, you’ll need an appointment for a different day. Each implant adds another couple of hours to the procedure. Once the dentist finishes screw placement, you’ll begin the recovery period.
The Recovery Period
After the surgery, you may experience some discomfort, swelling, and bruising. The screw will adhere to your jawbone during the recovery period. Multiple implants, particularly located in one area, may take longer to heal than one or two in separate areas of your mouth. The average recovery period takes around three months between implant surgery and crown placement.
The Implant Fitting
Once the implant site has sufficiently healed, you can schedule the abutment and crown fitting. The abutment provides cushioning between the implant and the crown. The crown serves as a replacement for your missing tooth.
This step typically requires two visits. During the first visit, the dentist will make an impression on your other teeth to develop a crown that perfectly matches them. Crown development takes around two weeks.
Your dentist will fit the abutments and crowns into your mouth. This step may take 30 or fewer minutes.
How Long Does a Dental Implant Procedure Take?
So, how long does a dental implant procedure take altogether? Let’s briefly examine each step of an average implant process again:
- Examination: The pre-surgery exam may take about an hour or so. Complications will lengthen the implant process significantly.
- Surgery: If you only need one or two implants, you may undergo the procedure on the same day. The number of implants affects the surgery time. Each implant takes up to two hours to place.
- Recovery: The healing period takes three months for most patients.
- Implant development: The appointment for implant impressions shouldn’t take more than an hour. The dentist may examine your mouth for any new issues.
- Implant installment: Implant development takes two weeks. The following appointment should take an hour.
Thus, most implant procedures take between three to six months. If you need a bone graft before the implant surgery, your experience could last a year.
What Else Should You Know?
If you lost a tooth and want implants, promptly seek implant services. Tooth loss results in continued bone loss in the jaw. As the bone weakens, it will require additional procedures to hold an implant screw.
Prompt artificial root placement will prevent further bone loss and decrease your procedure and recovery time.
Make an Appointment With Mark L. Civin, D.D.S.
How long does a dental implant procedure take? Most procedures take between three and six months to complete. Mark L. Civin, D.D.S., can help you navigate your oral health before and after dental implants. Call 561-624-2224 to schedule an appointment.
