With dental implants, you can replace any number of missing teeth while receiving the most natural and long-lasting results. Although these titanium posts provide the most exceptional stability and durability for tooth replacements, they do involve a surgical procedure that you’ll have to plan for. Keep reading to learn how long dental implant surgery can take along with what to expect from the healing process.
What Is the Timeframe for a Dental Implant Surgery?
Firstly, your procedure will begin with your team completely numbing your mouth with local anesthesia so that you’re pain-free throughout your visit. Your dentist will then make a tiny incision in your gums so that they can access your jawbone where they’ll place your dental implants. Lastly, they’ll suture your gum tissue closed around them and place a protective cap atop the metal post to keep them safe while you heal. This stage of the process should take anywhere from one to two hours for a single dental implant, so any more posts will lengthen the timeframe. Your dentist will provide you with a time estimate beforehand so that you can plan correctly.
How Long Is the Recovery Process?
After you’ve been sent home from the first portion of the treatment plan, you’ll need to allow your implants to heal for about three to six months. This will be essential for osseointegration, which is the process of the metal posts fusing with the jawbone. If properly done, you can expect your results to feel and function just like natural teeth. During this time, you might experience mild discomfort, which should be short-lived and easily managed with store-bought pain relievers.
Completing the Dental Implant Process
Once your implants have successfully fused to your jawbone, you’ll have to return to your dentist to receive your abutments. These metal connector pieces are designed to link your restorations to your posts. Your team will then take impressions of your smile to send to a lab for the fabrication of your new dental crown, bridge, or denture. Once completed, you’ll come back to us so that we can complete your brand-new smile.
The dental implant process can take quite a while, and the specific timeframe can vary from patient to patient. Speak with your dentist about your treatment plan, and they’ll be able to give you a more accurate estimate so that you know exactly what to expect.
About the Authors
Dr. Michael Zang studied at the University of California, Los Angeles before attending Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dentistry for his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree. He’s undergone extensive training in dental implants and can even perform the entire process in the office. If you’d like to know more about this treatment or wish to schedule a consultation, visit our website or give us a call at 714-465-5589.