Many Australians opt for dental implants as a replacement for broken or missing teeth. Dental implants are permanent and are cared for similarly to natural teeth, so they are often preferable to dentures that need to be removed daily.
The biggest question facing patients who desire dental implants is how long does dental surgery take? Dental implant surgery is an ongoing process that takes several months to complete; however, the exact time is determined by a patient’s oral circumstances. Find out the factors that affect the time it takes to complete the dental implant procedure and what to expect during the treatment.
What are Dental Implants?
A dental implant is a small titanium screw that is inserted into your jawbone where your tooth’s root used to be. Your bone fuses to the implant, which secures it to your jaw. This process is called osseointegration and takes several weeks to occur following the implant surgery.
Eventually, an abutment is placed on top of the implant, and finally, an artificial tooth, or crown, is placed on the abutment. This leaves you with dental implants that match your surrounding teeth and give you full use of your mouth.
Many people turn to dental implants when they have lost or damaged their teeth by engaging in unhealthy lifestyle choices such as smoking. Dental implant surgery is an excellent choice for some people because it restores full use of their jaw and allows them to talk, chew, and care for their artificial teeth just as they would for their natural smile.
What Does the Dental Implant Procedure Entail?
The dental implant procedure follows this general process:
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Initial Consultation
During your initial consultation, your dentist will discuss your options and answer your general questions. They may take X-rays to get a clear picture of your oral situation.
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Implant Surgery
The next visit to your dentist entails the dental implant being fitted into your jawbone. Most likely, you will be given an anaesthetic during dental implant surgery.
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Abutment Placement
Several months after your dental implant surgery, your bone will have grown around the dental implant, and the implant site is fully healed. You will return to the dentist to have your abutments, which are the foundation for the crown, placed on the top of your implants.
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Artificial Tooth Placement
The last step in the official dental implant procedure is the placement of the artificial tooth. A crown is created based on a mould of your teeth and placed on the abutment of the implant. This secures the artificial tooth in place and completes your smile. Your crown is made at the on-site laboratory at Dental Spot, which uses state-of-the-art technology to match your crown to your surrounding teeth.
How Long Does Dental Implant Surgery Take?
Although the dental implant surgery involving the insertion of the implant may only take one visit, the entire procedure takes much longer.
Some of the factors that affect the time dental implant surgery takes are:
- Whether or not you’re a strong candidate from the initial consultation. If not, you may have to undergo gum or bone grafting before implants can be installed. This adds a few months to your completion time frame.
- The number of teeth that are being replaced. The more teeth you are having replaced, the longer the procedure will take.
- The complexity of tooth removal for your implants. If you have damaged teeth, they need to be removed before your dentist can put the implant in. This adds time to your process.
- The time it takes for your body to heal and grow bone around the implant (osseointegration). This is different for everyone but usually takes six to twelve weeks.
- Other issues related to your dental health. If you have poor dental health, your dentist may recommend making changes before you can have implants put in, extending the time frame.
Generally, the entire process takes between three to nine months; however, it can take more than a year to see completion in some complicated cases. It may seem like a long time commitment, but the resulting dental implants act just like natural teeth and last for many decades if well taken care of.
Set Up Your Dental Implant Consultation
If you are considering getting dental implants, contact the Dental Spot team in Croydon to discuss the dental implant procedure and ask any questions you may have. We are happy to give you the information you need and help you set up an appointment to move forward with dental implant surgery. Call the Dental Spot today on (02) 9158 6115 to set up a consultation.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
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