If you have one or more missing teeth, your dentist may recommend dental implants to help restore your smile, confidence, and chewing functions lost from missing or damaged natural teeth. Implants offer a long-lasting solution for those with missing teeth and act as a healthy and natural-looking teeth replacement option.
If you’re considering getting dental implants or will soon undergo a dental implant procedure, you likely have questions about the process. One of the biggest questions about implant surgery is: How long does a dental implant procedure take?
To get the answer to this and other questions about dental implants, here’s everything you need to know about dental implant procedures.
What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are titanium components that act as artificial tooth roots.
The implants are surgically placed in and fuse with the jawbone to provide support for replacement teeth. They are a highly sought-after alternative to dentures or bridges and offer a permanent teeth replacement solution.
What are the Benefits of Dental Implants?
If you aren’t a suitable candidate for dentures or bridgework or simply want something more permanent, dental implants offer many benefits. Whether you have one or more damaged teeth, are missing a tooth, or have lost an entire row of teeth, opting for a dental implant procedure can give you back a more confident and functional smile.
Missing teeth can negatively affect your self-confidence and make everyday activities like talking, chewing, or eating much more difficult. When you choose dental implants, you can resume eating foods without difficulty or worry, and by filling these unwanted gaps, you’ll regain a beautiful smile that you can show with confidence.
Beyond easier eating and boosted confidence, getting dental implants can help you avoid dental health issues. When you leave gaps in your teeth unaddressed, these gaps are prone to bacteria that can cause cavities, gum disease, bad breath, and more.
By undergoing a dental implant procedure, your new dental implants safely fill the gaps left behind by lost teeth and minimise the risk of further dental health issues.
How Long Does a Dental Implant Procedure Take?
The process for a dental implant procedure looks different for every patient. This process depends on how many teeth are being replaced, the strength of the patient’s jawbone, the healing time, and various other factors.
From start to finish, a dental implant procedure typically takes around six to nine months for most patients, barring any complications or additional surgery that’s needed.
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The Dental Implant Process
Typically, a dental implant procedure is completed in three steps: The implant placement, placement of the abutment, and placing the restoration or replacement tooth. In most cases, your dentist fits the abutment several months after they insert the dental implants into your jawbone. Weeks after that, the replacement tooth, or crown, is placed.
When you opt to complete your dental implant procedure at No Gaps Dental, the process begins with a consultation. During this initial visit, your dentist performs a thorough oral exam, including X-rays or 3D images, to assess your jawbone quality and quantity. From there, they discuss your tooth implant options and design a custom plan.
The next time you visit the dentist, the implant or implants are placed using a local anaesthetic or dental sedation. In some cases, your dentist will attach the abutment at the end of the procedure. During the first few weeks, you’ll follow a soft food diet to allow proper healing. You’ll spend anywhere from three to six months in a period of recovery while the implants fuse with your jawbone.
Once the implants completely fuse with your bone, your next appointment will be placing the abutment — a small connection placed on the implant above your gum line.
Once your gums have fully healed, you’re ready for your new replacement teeth. During this time, your dentist takes impressions of your mouth to make your custom replacement teeth. We can manufacture same-day crowns using our CEREC technology. Instead of waiting weeks for your impressions to be sent out, manufactured, and returned, we can design your new teeth in just one visit.
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When Dental Implants Take Longer
While the answer to how long a dental implant procedure takes is usually around six to nine months, there are a handful of factors that may complicate the process and make it last longer. For instance, if you don’t have enough healthy bone to fuse the implants, you may require bone grafting or a sinus lift, adding an extra surgery and healing time (two to four months) to the procedure.
Other instances that may make the process take longer include if you smoke or don’t follow proper oral hygiene guidelines to help your implants have the best chance of success or if you experience complications during any part of the surgery or healing process.
Practising Dental Safety
When you visit No Gaps Dental in Sydney, your dentist follows the most rigorous health and safety standards to maintain a hygienic clinic. Along with following all infection control guidelines set forth by the Australian Dental Association, No Gaps Dental follows protective measures such as using hand sanitiser and properly sanitising or disposing of dental equipment after each use.
In addition to your dentist using hand sanitiser to minimise infection risk, you can expect to find hand sanitiser available to you and other patients throughout the practice to help ensure your comfort and safety.
Restore Your Smile Today
If you have one or more missing teeth and want a more functional, confident smile, No Gaps Dental can help. Call (02) 8806 0227 to book an appointment today to learn if implant-based restorations are a good option for your smile.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks.