How Long Does It Take to Get Dental Implants?
One of the most common questions we receive is, ‘How long does the dental implant procedure take?’ And, while it’s not possible to provide an answer that covers every imaginable case, a few estimates are possible. As Kalamazoo’s go-to source for high-quality implant dentistry, we pride ourselves on educating our patients and helping them choose the best options for their health.
In most cases, dental implants are the most durable, most natural, and longest lasting solution to missing teeth.
We’ve discussed the implant procedure before and, in another article, discussed the workings of ‘same day implants.’ But, when your teeth are damaged and your quality of life is impacted, you want to know how long it takes to repair or replace them. So, in this post, we’d like to specifically cover the time frames involved.
Before the Dental Implant Process
For some patients, it may be necessary to address bone loss prior to receiving dental implants. Bone loss occurs when teeth are missing and no longer receive stimulation from chewing, which causes the surrounding bone tissue to erode away. Implants require a stable foundation, which means that it may be necessary to address this erosion before your dental implant procedure.
Identifying Bone Loss
To understand if tooth loss, damage, or gum disease have impacted your jawbone, we employ a number of techniques:
- Periodontal charting: By measuring the pockets between your gums and teeth, we can better understand the progression of periodontitis and the underlying bone structure.
- X-rays: If we suspect that the jawbone may be eroded, we will perform X-rays, which will allow us to visualize the jawbone and immediately understand if grafting is necessary.
Bone Grafts and Bone Grafting
Bone grafts are a way to rebuild the jawbone and restore its ability to serve as the foundation of your dental implants. Without this foundation, your implants are unlikely to be stable and there’s a risk of failure. Luckily, dental bone grafts have a success rate of up to 100%, depending on the type.
How Long is the Dental Implant Procedure?
Realistically, there are a couple of answers to this question. While the dental implant surgery itself can be completed in only a few hours, it’s important to remember that both prep work and healing times are necessary.
With discovery, examinations, prep work, and healing times considered, it takes three to six months to complete the dental implant procedure.
Step 1: Dental Examination
Generally, the dental implant process begins with a dental exam. During this exam, we’ll look at the overall health of your mouth via X-rays, scans, and traditional dental techniques. Since your implants will be affixed directly to your jawbone, this process helps us determine if additional steps, such as bone grafts, are necessary.
Step 2: Dental Implant Placement
During the dental implant surgery phase, we fix titanium dental implants to the jawbone. These implants will act as root replacements. Sometimes, in the case of full-arch, same-day procedures, we will affix the teeth with titanium screws into the implants. But, with regular – or single-tooth – solutions, this step is done after the healing stage.
Step 3: Healing
After your surgery, you may experience some discomfort. As a final step, it’s incredibly important that you follow the instructions given to you by your dentist to be certain the implant heals correctly. This may include applying ice, altering your diet, or avoiding certain exercises. Your initial discomfort may diminish in under a week. But, again, to ensure the long-term success of your dental implants you’ll need to continue the regimen that your dentist assigned you until the full healing period is complete.
Questions About Dental Implant Surgery?
At West Wind Dental, we know that patients want fast, immediate solutions to missing, damaged, or painful teeth. Based on how often we’re asked about how long the entire process takes to get dental implants, we understand it’s a primary concern. So, if you have any questions or concerns about dental implants, we encourage you to reach out to us today to discuss your options and schedule an initial consultation.
Dr. Andrew Hamilton, DDS, FAGD
Dr. Hamilton is an active member of several professional organizations including the American Dental Association (ADA), the Michigan Dental Association (MDA), the Kalamazoo Valley District Dental Society (KVDDS), the American Academy of Implant dentistry (AAID), the International Academy of Facial Aesthetics (IAFA) and also attends courses with the Pikos Institute in Northwest Florida. He is a member of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists (ICIO), has achieved fellowship status in the International Dental Implant Association (IDIA) and in the Academy of General Dentistry (FAGD), has graduated from and is an alumnus of the Kois Center program in Seattle, and is on the faculty of the Global Dental Implant Academy (GDIA).
The little spare time left over is spent Steelhead and Salmon fishing and the occasional round of golf.