What to expect when getting dental implants
You’ve decided that getting dental implants is the best investment that you can make in your smile. After all, they have a higher success rating than any other modern-day tooth replacement. So now that you’re ready to move forward with rebuilding your smile, you want to know what to expect…or more specifically, how long the entire implant process takes.
The Dental Implant Process
Implant treatment is generally broken up into a couple of different phases. Assuming you’ve already had any infected teeth removed and your consultation is complete, an implant procedure typically goes through three stages:
1. Surgical Placement
Implant surgery is what most people fear most, but it’s a very simple and straightforward process. In fact, it’s easier than having a tooth pulled. With the aid of 3D imaging, your implant placement usually only takes about 20-30 minutes.
2. Healing
After your implant surgery, you will need to wait anywhere from 3-6 months for the new “roots” to integrate with your body. What’s happening is new bone grows around the implant, permanently fusing it into place. We call this stage “osseointegration.” Once it’s achieved, your implant isn’t going anywhere!
3. Final Restoration
Now is the moment you’ve been waiting for! The top of your implant is uncovered and a small abutment is attached. Then, we anchor a permanent new crown, bridge, or denture on top of the abutment.
What Happens in the Meantime?
Depending on where your new dental implant is located, we may place a temporary restoration that covers the area, so that you don’t have to feel embarrassed about having a missing tooth. This small flipper fills in the open space while the area heals, but once the implant is fully integrated with your mouth we’ll install a permanent crown or bridge.
Are you ready to get started? Schedule your implant consultation today, and in just 4-7 months you could have a permanent new smile.