How long does it take to get dental implants?

dental implants

If you have lost a tooth due to an injury or illness, it might have left you feeling self-conscious or even traumatized. Not only can tooth loss cause pain, it can also lead to functional problems and change the appearance of your smile. The good news is that dental implant placement can correct the problem. The not-so-good news is that dental implant treatment can be long and tedious. 

So, exactly how long does it take to get dental implants? The short answer is that it can take several months from your initial consultation with an implant dentist to the completion of your implant placement.

However, same-day implants can be used to replace missing teeth faster. In this article, we will look at dental implant treatment and healing in detail. We'll discuss the pros and cons of traditional versus same-day implants. Come, let's take a deep dive into the dental implant process to understand it better.  

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What is the dental implant process?

Whether you have lost teeth due to gum disease or in an accident, dental implants can restore your oral health and beautiful smile by giving you artificial teeth that look and work like natural teeth.

Let's get familiar with some terms first. A dental implant is a screw-like metal post that replaces the root of a missing tooth. An abutment is a piece to which the crown attaches - it acts like a shock absorber between the implant and the crown. The crown is a realistic looking artificial tooth.

Now for the steps in the dental implant process. The first step is a tooth extraction to remove a damaged tooth. Next is the preparation of the jawbone with bone grafting (if needed). This is followed by placement of a dental implant and osseointegration (bone growth and healing). The final step is placement of the abutment and artificial crown.

Dental Evaluation

Before starting any work on your teeth, an implant dentist will schedule you for an initial consultation. At this appointment, they will perform a comprehensive examination of your mouth to assess your oral health. They may order X-rays or 3D scans. This is necessary to confirm that your gums and jawbone are healthy and strong enough to support a dental implant. Based on the results of these tests, your dentist will develop a implant placement plan for you.

Preparation

Depending on the cause of your tooth loss, your dentist may advise waiting for some time to allow your mouth to heal. During this time, you may be treated with antibiotics. Some patients have bone loss (not enough jaw bone for a dental implant to be securely held in place) or have soft bones. In such patients, a bone grafting procedure can be done to build up the jaw bone and prepare it for a dental implant. This involves taking a piece of bone from another part of the body and implanting it into the jaw. 

It can also be done by using artificial bone to strengthen the jaw bone. If this is the case, you might have to wait several months while the bone graft heals and grows. This one of the reasons that dental implant placement takes so long. Of course, if you have good oral health, your dentist may move ahead immediately with placement of the dental implant, in which case you could be done in a few weeks.

Implant Placement

This is the main step in the titanium implant process. An oral surgeon will place an implant post, which is a titanium rod, into the jaw bone below the gums. It is a surgical procedure and takes 1-2 hours to complete. There can be some pain, swelling, and bruising during recovery from implant surgery.

Bone Healing and Growth

Your cosmetic dentist will ask you to wait for around 3 months after your implant surgery before fitting the crown. This next step is when the mouth heals. The process is called osseointegration, i.e., integration of the titanium post with the surrounding bone. It can be frustrating to wait while the implant takes, but this time window is really important to provide a solid base to your new tooth. While you wait for your new false tooth, your dentist may give you a temporary denture or temporary crown to fill the gap in your teeth and prevent the neighboring teeth from leaning into the gap.

Fitting of the Abutment and Crown

Once your implant has healed, the only thing left to do is remove the temporary tooth and fit the permanent abutment and crown onto the implant. This is not such a major procedure. The crown is made based on impressions your dentist took, so it fits perfectly with the surrounding teeth, leaving you with a beautiful new smile. Most people need about 2 weeks to heal from this part of the implant process.

How long does it take for a tooth implant from start to finish?

If everything goes well, the dental implant process should take 6 months or a bit longer from start to finish. However, it is not uncommon for people to get their replacement tooth a year or more after tooth loss. It's important not to rush the process to ensure a healthy mouth and a lasting dental implant. With a successful treatment and proper care, your dental implant should last you a lifetime. The crown, however, may need to be replaced in 10-15 years.

Can a dental implant procedure be done in one day?

Understandably, people who have lost one or more teeth want to have them replaced as quickly as possible. An increasing number of dentists offer a solution to this problem with same-day dental implants. This is an advanced technique in which a dentist places and loads the implant at the same time. The implant is locked in place with a bridge so that it cannot move during the healing process.  

Now, while this treatment may sound tempting, it does have its pros and cons. First, let’s look at the advantages:

• You get your new teeth at the same appointment.
• You don't need to wear a partial or full denture while your implant heals.
• You can talk and eat relatively comfortably while the implant heals.
• There is minimal disruption to your daily life.
• The technique used in same-day dental implants is tried and tested and does not compromise the long-term success of the treatment.
• A technique called All-on-Four uses just four dental implants to support a complete arch of teeth. The implants are placed in a manner such that a bone graft is not needed. This can not only save time but also help to reduce costs.

 

Coming to the main disadvantage of same-day dental implants. Here's the thing. There is no shortcut for the implant-bone integration process. It is necessary for the body to build bone around the implant to hold it firmly in place. 

The process can take 3-6 months and you need to follow certain instructions during this time. This includes eating a soft diet and avoiding crunchy or hard foods. Failure to do so can lead to implant movement, which can negatively impact the integration and increase the risk of treatment failure.

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Can I get immediate dental implants?

Your dentist will develop a customized treatment plan for you based on your dental needs. You may or may not be a good candidate for immediate dental implants. It's impossible to say until a dentist examines your mouth.

Can you get a tooth pulled and an implant the same day?

In some people, if the jawbone is healthy, it may be possible to have a tooth extraction and placement of a dental implant on the same day. In most cases, however, a dentist will recommend you wait 3-6 months after tooth extraction to allow for complete healing.

The Takeaway

A dental implant procedure can be long and frustrating. It's not something that can be accomplished overnight. But it is essential that you not rush the healing process to ensure treatment success. Generally speaking, dentists advise getting the replacement process underway sooner rather than later. This is because a missing tooth can lead to more permanent damage caused by a deteriorating jaw bone and shifting teeth.

If you would like to find implant dentists in your area, the MeTime app makes it easy. You can chat with experts, get answers to your questions, do a video consultation and even book your appointment. If you haven't already done so, download the MeTime app today and find out more about dental implants.