When it comes to long-lasting replacements for missing teeth that can also provide significant oral health benefits, dental implants in Sydney offer a popular, effective smile restoration solution for many people. However, they do require a surgical procedure, and you may be wondering how long full dental implants take.
The exact length of time it takes to install dental implants will depend on several important factors, and an experienced dentists in sydney can help you determine the best cosmetic treatment option for your smile, whether that’s dental implants, crowns, or a dental bridge.
In the meantime, we’ll take you through the process of getting dental implants, from the procedure and its aftercare, to the key factors determining your recovery timeline and how long it takes to do a dental implant.
How Long Do Dental Implants Take From Start to Finish?
If you don’t require any initial dental work, the dental implant procedure can take between three and nine months, depending on how long the osseointegration process takes. Your dentist can give you a more specific estimate during your initial consultation and update you on the timeline throughout the process.
“Although this may seem like a long time,” Dr Wilbert Zulueta notes, “dental implants can last for 20–30 years with the right care and maintenance.”
If you follow your dentist’s aftercare recommendations, the dental crown or artificial tooth can last for 15–20 years, unlike dentures or dental bridges, which require replacement every five to seven years.
Breaking Down the Dental Implant Process
If you’re wondering how long dental implants take to complete, the answer will always depend on your individual case and is best discussed with your dentist before any treatment commences.
However, as a general rule, the minimum time dental implants take to complete is around three months, but they can take up to nine months.
You can expect to attend anywhere between three and six appointments over the course of your treatment, depending on the complexity of your case and your healing journey, with four core steps involved. These include:
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Initial Consultation
The first step of any dental implant procedure is to schedule an initial consultation with your dentist. They will then examine your mouth and teeth, checking that you:
- Are in good overall health
- Can commit to regular teeth cleaning and good oral hygiene
- Have healthy gums
- Have sufficient bone density
During this appointment, your dentist will also take X-rays and 3D images to determine if dental implants are a suitable treatment option for you, and how long dental implants may take to put in.
Some patients require dental work before undergoing dental implant surgery, and this can add to your treatment timeline. Common factors that need to be addressed by your dentist first include:
Gum disease — treated with a course of antibiotics, scaling, and root planing.
Multiple missing teeth — too much bone degeneration means that a dental implant won’t be supported enough for installation.
Insufficient jawbone — when it comes to whether bone grafting can increase treatment time, the simple answer is yes. If you require a bone graft, you can usually expect another three months or more to heal.
Your dentist may also request that you stop smoking before a dental implant procedure, as it can slow the healing process and may result in dental failure.
“Other common causes of implant failure include poor oral hygiene, a history of teeth grinding, pre-existing health conditions such as diabetes or an immune disorder, and ignoring your dentist’s aftercare instructions,” Dr Wilbert Zulueta explains.
“Additionally, if you take blood-thinning medication or have certain health issues, you may need to consult with your dentist and primary physician before going ahead with surgery.”
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Dental Implant Surgery
Once your dentist clears you for dental implants, they’ll schedule a date for your dental implant surgery.
On the day of the surgery, you’ll either receive IV sedation or local anaesthetic to help reduce your discomfort. Your dentist will make a small incision in your gum and your jawbone, insert the dental implant, and then close the incision. For about two weeks after the surgery, you’ll notice some swelling and discomfort.
Before the second part of the procedure, you must wait for the bone and implant to fuse in a process called osseointegration1. This process could take three to six months and creates a solid base for the artificial crown to hook onto.
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Abutment Surgery
When your implant has thoroughly fused to your jawbone, your dentist schedules a second surgery to attach the abutment, or small hook, to the implant. The process is similar to the dental implant surgery, except your dentist only needs to cut through your gum. You’ll need about two weeks to recover from this surgery.
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Designing and Fitting the Crown or Artificial Tooth
The last step is to fill the gap in your smile. You’ll meet with your dentist to create an impression of your mouth, which is used to design a custom crown or artificial tooth. Once it’s complete, your dentist will fit it to your mouth and make any aesthetic adjustments you request.
How Long Do Dental Implants Take To Heal?
Although the procedure can take up to a year, much of that is the osseointegration process, which shouldn’t disturb your daily activities. But how long does it take for osseointegration to complete, and how long do stitches take to dissolve after dental implants?
While how long it takes to recover from dental implant surgery will differ from one patient to the next, in general, the dental implant healing stages2 can look like:
Days 1–3: mild swelling and discomfort will peak during this phase, concentrated around the implant site.
Weeks 1-3: Reduced pain and discomfort as the soft tissue begins to heal and stitches dissolve. If you had a more complex case and required multiple implants to be installed, this stage may take longer.
Months 1–3: Everyday function resumes as osseointegration and bone growth start. If you required bone grafting for your dental implants, you may need an additional two to three weeks of recovery time.
Months 3–6: The abutment is placed once the implant is stable in the jawbone, then the dental crown is fitted to complete treatment.
Tips to Improve Dental Implant Recovery Time
With proper care and maintenance, you may be able to reduce your overall recovery time and support longer-lasting results3. Your dentist will provide you with a post-procedure care guide, but some additional tips include:
- Maintaining good oral hygiene (e.g. brushing with a soft-bristled toothbrush)
- Eating a soft food diet during the early healing stages (e.g. mashed potatoes, soups, and yoghurts that won’t disturb the implant site)
- Using over-the-counter pain medication to manage discomfort (only after consultation with your dentist)
- Attending regular check-ups with your dentist (to track your healing, detect any potential issues early, and monitor your overall implant and oral health)
Get Started with No Gaps Dental
If you’re ready to learn more about your tooth replacement options, the team at No Gaps Dental can help assess your suitability for dental implants and answer any questions you may have about the procedure.
You can call us today to get started, or book an appointment at one of our 18 clinic locations across Sydney.
References:
1 Science Direct “Osseointegration”
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/osseointegration
2 Ovid “Wound Healing around Dental Implants – A Review of Literature”
3 Association of Dental Implantology “Survival and Success”
https://www.adi.org.uk/resources/after_care_survival_and_success/