How Long Does The Tooth Implant Process Take?
What Are Dental Implants?
They are dental restorations that replace lost teeth in dentistry. Dental implants feature small screw-like titanium metal posts erected in jawbones. These metal posts replace the roots of teeth first, making them stand out from other tooth replacement appliances.
However, the treatment will not be complete even after replacing the tooth roots. Your dentist will employ a different dental appliance to complete the procedure.
Understanding the Process of Getting Dental Implants
One fact about implantation procedures is that it has a prolonged timeline. The process is invasive, meaning that it dictates different treatment protocols than other dental restorations for replacing teeth. At Lapeer City Dental, we categorize the process into three main phases:
- Dental Implants Phase 1 – Evaluation and Preparation
When you determine to replace your lost tooth with a dental implant, you must undergo a comprehensive dental exam. The exam will allow the dentist near you to evaluate the health of your oral cavity. Some patients may need tooth extraction before proceeding to replace the lost teeth. The dentist also checks the health of your gums and jawbone as the primary targets for the implantation surgery.
If your dentist determines that your gums and jawbone are not in perfect health, you will require other treatments before your implantation surgery. The treatments may include gum grafting and bone grafting surgeries to restore the health of your bone and gum tissues. If you do undergo these surgeries, the timeline of your implantation treatment moves further by about 3 or 4 months which will be necessary for healing.
- Dental Implants Phase 2 – Artificial Root Placement
The root placement is the implantation procedure. This phase of the treatment begins with numbing and sedation to render the root placement painless. Afterward, your dentist will begin the procedure by cutting the gums to expose the bone tissue underneath. The dentist will follow with a drilling tool to make a hole in your jawbone, usually the size of a dental implant.
Once done, (s)he will carefully place the metal post in the created space, then sew the gums to hold it in place. At this point, you need some time to heal before any further dental work can commence. The healing period will last about three months.
Meanwhile, the dentist will take impressions of the mouth, using them to create the other dental restoration crucial for completing your procedure.
- Dental Implants Phase 3 – Placement of the Crown
The last phase of your treatment entails crowning the tooth implant. The dentist will place an abutment on the implant, then cover it with a dental crown. The dentist will make the dental crown in a dental laboratory while you heal. It should fit perfectly.
Dentists use dental bridges or dentures instead of oral crowns in other cases. It happens if you have more than one missing tooth. This way, you will not need a tooth implant for all the teeth you have lost. Instead, the implant will support the dental bridge or denture to replace the lost teeth.
How Long Will Your Treatment Take?
The process of getting tooth implants in Lapeer differs for every patient. Technically, the timeline for getting dental implants lies between 5 and 12 months. It depends on the number of procedures you need to undergo within your treatment plan. If you need bone grafting or gum grafting, it takes an extra three months. The process may take even longer if your body takes a long time to heal after surgery.
Should You Get Dental Implants?
The timeline for the treatment can scare you away. However, understand that dental implants present many benefits to your oral health, including the following:
- Functionality boost – your mouth will function optimally before losing your natural teeth.
- Permanent results – you do not have to worry about retreatment a few months after your procedure.
- Durability – statistics show that patients who care for your dental implants properly have kept them for a lifetime.
- Natural-looking effects – dental implants are life-like since they have both a root and crown, comparable to natural teeth. Besides, the crowns of dental implants are tooth-colored to match the color of natural teeth.
- Aesthetic advantage – other than filling the gap of missing teeth, dental implants improve your facial appearance. They add support to your facial muscles, promoting fullness and youthfulness.