Whether you’re missing one tooth or require a full arch, dental implants act as artificial tooth roots, supporting your false teeth.
How long do dental implants really take? Dental implant surgery is a short procedure where your dentist places the tiny implant rod at a single appointment. But the overall process, from start to finish, requires a longer commitment. Get more information.
How Long Do Dental Implants Take? 4 Stages of the Dental Implant Procedure
The basic timeline of dental implant surgery can be broken down into four stages and can take up to twelve months:
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Make an Initial Appointment
Before undergoing a dental implant procedure, you need to attend an initial consultation to determine whether you’re a candidate for dental implants. Discover more.
During the consultation, your dentist manually examines your teeth and jaw, then uses an intraoral camera and digital X-rays to get a more in-depth look at your jawbone density and gum health.
If your dentist determines you have insufficient jaw bone density or thickness to support an implant, you may need to undergo a bone graft surgery or sinus lift to improve your jaw health. This can add several months of recovery time to your implant surgery timeline.
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Get Dental Implants Surgery
Once you have decided that dental implants are the right restorative treatment, you will have the implant post embedded at your next appointment. The dental implant surgery is performed chairside using local anaesthetic. However, if you suffer from dental anxiety, we also offer sedation dentistry to ensure you are calm and comfortable throughout the dental implant procedure.
During the surgery, your dentist makes a small cut in the gum to expose the jaw underneath. They then drill a small hole in the jaw and screw the implant post in place. The titanium post has screw-like threads down the shaft, which help the bone to fuse with the post and create a stable foundation for the restoration. Each implant only takes around 30 minutes to place.
The surgical site is sutured and packed with gauze. If you had IV sedation, you may need to remain at the dental practice until the anaesthesia has worn off. You will also need a family member or friend to drive you home.
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Dentist Placing the Abutment
Recovery after the initial surgery takes around three months to allow the bone to fuse with the implant through a process called osseointegration. After the recovery period, you’ll return to the dental practice to have the abutment placed. The abutment is a connector between the post and the dental restoration.
The gum tissue is reopened to place the abutment, and the connector is placed on top of the post. The site is closed around but not over the implant.
You need around two weeks to recover from the abutment placement.
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Fitting the Crown
After having impressions and images taken of the socket and surrounding teeth, the data is sent to an off-site lab to construct your dental crown. The crown is cemented in place at your final appointment, and your dental implant procedure is complete.
Start the Dental Implant Process Today
If you’re considering dental implant surgery for replacing missing teeth, ask your dentist ‘how long do dental implants take’ and whether your oral health is good enough to support implants.
At Dapto Dentists, we use high-quality dental implants from reputable manufacturers like Straumann, Southern Implants, and MIS to give you results you’ll love. Book online or call us today on (02) 4210 9058 to start the consultation process.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
