You might be wondering, “how long does it take to get a teeth implant?” If you have gum disease or need a tooth extraction, your dental implant procedure may take longer than someone who has healthy teeth and gums. When you meet with a dentist that offers a free consultation, they can talk with you more about getting a dental implant, including what factors determine the length of the process.
Your Initial Consultation for a Dental Implant
Your dental implant process starts with a free consultation with a dentist to discuss the procedure and decide whether dental implants are right for you. Your dentist will examine your oral health using state-of-the-art technology such as Sirona Orhtophos SL imaging machine, 3D CT scans, and photos.
These images are used to ensure your gums and jawbone can support dental implants. After examining your oral health, the dentist can also discuss other factors that may affect your dental implant procedure and the time it takes to recover.
Factors Affecting the Length of Your Dental Implant Procedure
The timeline for receiving dental implants varies significantly between patients, depending on numerous factors. While some individuals may recover from the initial implant procedure within 3 to 4 months, allowing the dentist to place the abutment and crown, others may require more than 6 months of recovery time.
-
Gum Health
If you have gum disease and your dentist determines you can receive dental implants, you need to first address this dental health issue. The severity of the gum disease will be discussed at your consultation; you may need to improve your oral care habits to reverse the progression before you’re ready for dental implants.
For more severe cases of gum disease, your dentist may recommend periodontal surgery in addition to scaling and root planing, which will delay your implant surgery.
-
Teeth Extraction
Your dentist can give you an assessment of which teeth should be removed before receiving dental implants.
In some cases, you can get a dental implant at the same time as your tooth extraction. The dentist will need to assess your mouth before telling you whether you may get dental implants immediately.
-
Bone Grafting
When you have been missing teeth for a long time due to gum disease or tooth extraction, you may experience bone loss in your jaw. If this is the case, you may need a bone graft procedure to deepen and/or widen the jawbone before undergoing a dental implant procedure. You should expect your bone graft’s healing time and fusion to take between 3 to 6 months.
A sinus lift may be performed to increase the bone mass of your upper jaw. Our dentists can also use autograft bone, which can come from other parts of your body, including the back edge of the wisdom tooth in the upper jaw or the nasal spine.
There will be a few months before you can do any other procedure on your body so that the area from which the bone was removed has healed properly. Your dentist will work with you on the bone graft you need to help support a dental implant.
Placing the Dental Implant
Dental implants are made of titanium rods that are inserted into your jawbone as the tooth’s root. In time, the implant rod fuses with the jawbone, allowing for dentures and dental crowns to be more stable.
Available Dental Care offers options for sedation dentistry to help you feel more relaxed and comfortable during the dental implant procedure. These include nitrous oxide and oxygen, also known as laughing gas, and intravenous (IV) sedation.
What is the Healing Time After Dental Implant Procedure?
After surgery, your dentist will give you instructions for the post-op care of your dental implants. It can take anywhere between 4 to 6 months for the bone to fuse to the implant in a process called osseointegration. Your dentist may recommend resting and eating soft foods during this healing phase.
During your consultation, you can ask your dentist what you need to know to aid your recovery after getting dental implants. While discomfort typically subsides after 7 days following the dental implant procedure, these factors can affect your recovery time after receiving dental implants:
- Physical characteristics, such as your age, weight, and immune system
- Lifestyle including nutrition, smoking habits, and level of chronic stress
- Health conditions like diabetes and if you are taking any medications
How Long Does it Take to Get a Teeth Implant?
Getting a dental implant takes a minimum of 3 to 4 months from your first consultation to completion but is likely to take more than 6 months. This is determined by the circumstances of the patient and other dental procedures you may need to have to prepare for dental implants.
Schedule a free consultation at your local dental clinic to learn how long does it take to get a teeth implant. Call us on (02) 4062 8763 to meet with one of our dentists and develop a treatment plan that works for you.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.