How Long Does a Dental Implant Procedure Take? What to Expect

Dental implants are the best choice if you are looking for the most natural-looking tooth replacement option. They are highly aesthetic and functionally durable for a smile you will love for a long time. In fact, with good care, dental implants can last a lifetime.

But before you can enjoy that, you probably want an answer to the question, how long does a dental implant procedure take? Let us give you a run-through of the process involving dental implants, so you know what to expect if you hope to have them soon.

 

How Long Does a Dental Implant Procedure Take – A Handy Guide

The dental implant process involves a series of steps. The timeline is different for every patient, but it should take roughly 4 – 7 months to complete.

In summary, it starts with an initial examination followed by dental implant surgery and, several months later, the final restoration to complete your smile. These are essential steps carefully planned to ensure a long-lasting smile restoration.

To understand why a dental implant procedure takes as long as it does, let’s look closer at each step involved. 

 

Dental Implant Procedure – What to Expect

Our clinic utilises the most advanced treatment methods in implant dentistry through digital dental implants.

This technology boasts several advantages, including accuracy, predictability, and improved safety and comfort over traditional implant techniques.

Here’s what you should know about each step of the dental implant process at DDSS DDII:

 

Initial Examination and Implant Screening

Before proceeding with the implant placement, our dental implant dentist will first assess your overall health to determine if you are a suitable implant candidate. Several factors must be considered to qualify for the dental implant process. These include:

• Condition of your jawbone
• Dental health status and the presence of dental diseases
• Oral hygiene care and maintenance
• General health and habits (including smoking and drinking alcohol)

Generally, if you are free of diseases that may compromise the placement of dental implants, you should pass as a good candidate. However, if you have poor oral health, uncontrolled disorders, and are a chronic smoker, the implant dentist may defer treatment until your health improves.

 

Scanning and Planning

Afterwards, the dentist will scan the teeth and jaws. Then, the data is inputted into a computer system to create a virtual 3D image of the mouth. This digital technology enables our dentist to identify the height and width of your bone and the ideal placement of the dental implant.

This is also advantageous for the replacement of several missing teeth. With computerised technology, the implant dentist can assess how many dental implants are needed and in which area they should be placed for optimal treatment success.

Digital implant dentistry also helps identify if procedures such as grafting are needed to rebuild the bone structure or sinus lifting to prevent sinus complications.

 

 

Dental Implant Surgery

Before surgery, local anaesthesia will be administered to help you relax and improve the overall experience. Then, the implant post is surgically placed in the jawbone using computer-guided technology. This faster and more precise approach involves minor incisions on only the necessary implant areas.

Digital implant technology also approximates nerves and other important oral structures, preventing complications during and after the treatment and improving the success of your dental implants.

 

Recovery Process

Healing after the digital dental implant process is shorter and more favourable. The gums heal faster because the procedure is as minimally invasive as possible. And because of the meticulous technique involved, you can expect bone-implant fusion to occur successfully. This is a crucial step in implant treatment and can take around 3 – 6 months.

For better healing, regular dental visits for progress checks are advised. Also, be kind to the process. Patience is a must as the bone fuses with the implant to lock the post in. Once the implant is stable, and healing is complete, your implant dentist can proceed to the next step.

 

Final Restoration

The final treatment in the dental implant process involves the surgical placement of an abutment. When this has healed, a digital impression is taken so your dentist can design your customised tooth crown.

Once complete, this is attached to the abutment, and you can finally enjoy your new smile.

Dental implants are very versatile. Aside from a tooth crown, you can also have a bridge or denture as a final restoration, depending on how many teeth are missing.

Also, our dentist will discuss the broad range of options we offer for tooth restoration so you can better understand which suits your needs and lifestyle best.

 

Implant Process – The Takeaway

Now we have answered your question, how long does a dental implant procedure take, the next step is to visit your implant dentist to discover if this is the best solution to complete your smile.

While the dental implant process takes longer to complete than other tooth replacement options, it results in a restoration that is incredibly similar in appearance and function to natural teeth. Also, with the advancements in digital implant dentistry available at our clinic, you can enjoy a shorter process with exceptional results. These are all reasons that more and more patients opt for dental implants over other tooth replacements. 

 

Revitalise Your Smile with Dental Implants

To learn more about treatment with digital dental implants, call our experienced team to schedule a consultation. We offer a free implant consultation with no obligations attached so you can determine if this is the best treatment for you.

Please book an appointment today at one of our clinics at (02) 8294 5812, (02) 8294 8656, or (02) 9299 8842 and experience world-class, modern dental care.

 

 

Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner. 

 

 

 

References

Healthline – Are Dental Implants Permanent?
https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-oral-health/how-long-do-dental-implants-last

PubMed – Clinical advantages of computer-guided implant placement: a systematic review
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23062137/

PubMed – Smoking and Dental Implants
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3894084/

Mayo Clinic – Dental implant surgery
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/dental-implant-surgery/about/pac-20384622

Colgate – Sinus Lift Surgery
https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/implants/sinus-lift