How Long Do Dental Implants Take?

Dental implants have increased in popularity in recent years. Their natural feeling and appearance makes them one of the best tooth replacement options available today. Patients who want dental implants often ask themselves, “how long do implants take?”

If you’re struggling with a missing tooth, you probably want to repair your smile as quickly as possible. Dental implants usually take several appointments to complete, but the wait is worth it. They are a permanent solution to tooth loss that can last for the rest of your life.

Treatment Timeline

The total dental implant procedure takes between three months and a year. This time period includes:

• An initial appointment to assess your situation
• A tooth extraction, if necessary
• The initial implant surgery, during which the implant post is inserted
• Healing time
• A final appointment to fit your abutment and crown

Your timeline may vary depending on when you are available to schedule dentist appointments. The health of your jawbone is also a factor. If you have experienced bone loss in your jaw, you may need a dental bone graft before your implant can be inserted. This will require additional healing time. Our implants guide outlines more of what you can expect with dental implants.

Healing Timeline

After your implant surgery is complete, you’ll need to let your new dental implant heal for at least 90 days.

This critical healing period happens after the implant post has been inserted into your jawbone but before the abutment and crown are secured to the implant. It gives your jaw time to heal around the titanium post, which ensures that the implant is secure.

During this healing period, you may be able to wear a temporary crown to cover the site of the newly-inserted implant. You can give your implant plenty of time to heal while also disguising any gap in your smile.

Once your implant heals, you can return to your dentist’s office to have the abutment and crown placed. And just like that, you have a new dental implant that will last for many years to come!

Follow-Ups and Maintenance

After your implant heals, you should continue to schedule regular check-ups and cleanings at your dentist’s office. This will help maintain your oral health. It also gives your dentist a chance to check your implant and make sure that it is functioning as it should.

Implant maintenance is simple: just keep up your at-home oral hygiene routine and alert your dentist to any discomfort. With the right care, your implant post will last for the rest of your life. While your crown may need to be replaced after ten to fifteen years, it’s a simple swap that doesn’t require additional surgery.

A Permanent Solution for Your Smile

How long do dental implants take? From start to finish, you can expect the implant process to take at least three months and possibly up to year. In the grand scheme of things, this is a small amount of time to wait for a lifelong smile enhancement.

If you’re interested in dental implants, contact our team at Mesa Street Dental. We have years of experience helping our patients repair their smiles with implants. We’d love to help you regain your confidence and comfort, too!