Understanding The Dental Implant Procedure
Getting a dental implant takes time. This is because the implant must be embedded into your jaw, and needs to integrate with your jaw bone. But getting to that point is different for every patient. Each patient presents with a different set of circumstances that need to be taken into account before an implant can be placed. And knowing which steps to follow to replace your missing tooth can only take place after a thorough consultation with your dental practitioner.
Furthermore, strictly speaking, dental implants are made up of three components:
- The dental implant that is embedded into the jaw
- The abutment or extension
- The dental crown that is placed over the top
Each component needs to be placed separately, and your gum tissue needs a chance to heal and recover between each procedure, which takes time.
A Tooth Extraction Or Bone Graft
A lot of the time when patients hear the word dental implants, their minds automatically jump to the question of bone grafting But not everyone needs a bone graft. Bone grafting may be required if you do not have enough healthy jaw bone to support dental implants. If your jaw is strong enough, this won’t be required. But when could it be necessary?
Well, if you lost your tooth a long time ago, you may have experienced bone loss in the underlying jaw. If your tooth was lost recently or needs to be extracted, you probably won’t need a graft. And what if you do?
There are usually two ways of addressing a bone graft. If you only need a small amount of bone, it may be possible to do a minor bone graft just before the placement of your dental implant. If you need a major graft then your dentist will schedule a separate procedure, place the bone graft, stitch up the wound and wait for your own bone tissue to regenerate.
If your tooth is still in your mouth, it would need to be extracted first.
Placing The Dental Implant
It is a good idea to place dental implants immediately when a tooth is lost or extracted, as this can prevent bone loss. In order to do this, your dentist will numb the area, cut your gum back and drill into the area that needs the replacement tooth. The dental implants will be screwed into position and the wound will be stitched up.
Very importantly, what happens now can determine whether your implant procedure is successful. During a two to three month period, the implant should osseointegrate with your jaw, which means that jaw bone needs to grow around it, in order to integrate it into your body.
Once this occurs, you have the strongest possible tooth replacement that could last for the rest of your lifetime.
Placing The Abutment
The abutment or extension piece is what connects the implant to the dental crown that will be visible when you smile. In order to do that, your dentist needs to open the wound up again. Once the extension has been placed, the wound will be sealed again, and you will undergo another period of healing.
Making The Dental Crown
Once your dentist is satisfied that your soft tissue has healed and that the implant has osseointegrated with your jaw, you will be ready for your dental crown.
So, How Long Does It Take To Get A Dental Implant?
This process, from placing the implant to placing the crown can take anywhere from three to nine months, depending on how quickly your body heals and recovers. If you need a bone graft or sinus lift, you can expect the procedure to take longer.
How Long Will Your Procedure Take?
The most accurate way to know how long it will take to get dental implants is to consult with your dental practitioner. He or she will assess you, take digital photographs and x-rays and present you with a treatment plan and cost estimate. The treatment plan will detail the estimated time it will take to complete your dental implant procedure as well as the steps required to get there.
To find out more about ‘how long does it take to get a dental implant’ you need to speak to a professional. Please contact us for the earliest available appointment: (02) 9158 6211.