You may have heard a lot about dental implants, but do you know how this process works? There is a lot to know about this procedure, including how the implants work, what components are involved, and how long it will be before you can have your new teeth. For many people, it can take several months, though the timeline will vary depending on various factors.
What dental implants do
Implants replace missing teeth and restore the mouth’s ability to chew. Implants can also help maintain the proper shape of the mouth and keep other teeth from falling out. Implants consist of a long screw-like rod or post, an abutment, and the crown. The post goes deep into the jawbone, and the abutment attaches to it. A natural-looking crown will resemble the size, shape, and color of the person’s actual teeth. Implants are strong, sturdy, and durable, allowing the patient to eat most foods again.
The time frame
Many restorative dental treatments require only one visit and can take less than an hour. Getting dental implants, however, is usually much different. In most cases, the patient will have to come into the office three times for different procedures. At the first one, the dentist will insert the posts in the jawbone, first cutting into the gums. The second appointment is when the dentist will make another incision in the gums to expose the top of the post. The dentist then attaches the abutment to it.
The final visit is when the patient gets the finishing touch: the crown. In between these appointments, the patient must wait to heal enough. There also must be enough bone for the post to act as the tooth’s root. In all, it could be up to a year from start to finish, though some people can complete the process in a few months.
Factors in the timeline: bone health
It is essential that the patient has a strong jaw to get dental implants. If the patient has suffered bone loss, the dentist may have to do a bone graft. This can add several weeks to the process. The dentist will also have to wait to make sure the titanium post has fused to the bone.
Other factors: extraction
Some patients are already missing teeth when they express a desire to get dental implants. Other patients still have all their teeth but know the dentist might not be able to salvage them. If the patient already has gaps, the implant process is faster. However, if the dentist needs to pull any teeth, the patient usually must heal for at least a few weeks before moving forward with the procedure.
The final answer
It is difficult to say how long it will take for a patient to get dental implants. It is clear that this is not an in-and-out procedure that you can take care of in a day. However, if you are otherwise healthy and do not need a bone graft, you could have full implants in several weeks. Your dentist will help map out a plan to get you started.
Request an appointment here: https://www.escondidofamilydentistry.com/ or call Escondido Family Dental Care & Specialty Center at (760) 747-7223 for an appointment in our Escondido office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Dental Implants in Escondido, CA.
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