About to Receive Your First Dental Implant? Here’s the Timeline to Expect

For patients with a missing tooth, a dental implant is a truly transformative procedure. These titanium rods fuse with your jawbone to create an anchor for a durable crown indistinguishable from a natural tooth. Dental implants restore the aesthetics of your smile and your ability to eat your favorite foods at the same time.

If you’re considering a dental implant, you might wonder about the duration of the surgical process. Continue reading to get a better understanding of the timeline for your treatment.

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

Before the surgery, you’ll have a consultation with your dentist. During this visit, your oral health will be evaluated with visual inspections and diagnostic tools like X-rays. Afterward, a customized treatment plan is developed based on your specific needs. This stage typically only takes one appointment unless there are complications.

Preparatory Procedures

In some cases, preparatory procedures such as bone grafting or sinus lifts may be necessary to ensure the success of dental implant placement. These procedures may extend the overall treatment timeline but are necessary for creating a stable foundation for your treatment.

The exact time at this stage varies depending on the complexity of the surgery needed and your natural healing ability. However, you should expect at least three months for a full recovery, but it could take up to six.

The Dental Implant Surgery

The actual placement of dental implants is performed with a surgical procedure. This surgery’s duration varies depending on the number of implants being performed and where they are placed in your mouth. On average, dental implant surgery can take anywhere from one to two hours per implant. The more experienced your dentist is, the less time this stage will take.

Osseointegration

After the implant is placed, a period of healing is needed to allow for osseointegration, which is the process of the implants fusing with the surrounding bone. This typically lasts several months and is critical for the long-term success of your treatment.

Abutment and Crown Placement

Once osseointegration is complete, abutments (connector pieces) are attached to the implants, and custom prosthetic restorations (crowns, bridges, or dentures) are fabricated and placed. This final stage is the “home stretch” of your treatment and may still require multiple appointments.

Overall, the entire process of dental implant surgery from start to finish can take several months—or even a year—to complete. While the duration may vary for each patient, the investment in time is well worth the long-term benefits of a gorgeous, restored smile and improved oral health.

About the Author

Do you need a practiced dentist to do your dental implants? Dr. Sweeta Walia has been serving the Mesquite area for over 15 years and has the experience and technology to ensure your treatment is done right. She earned her dental degree from the Nova Southeastern University School of Dental Medicine and completed advanced training in dental implant placement through the Hiossen International Implant Training program. Call (972) 288-3200 to schedule a dental implant consultation at Dental Impressions, or visit the website to explore other services.