The Dental Implant Surgery Healing Timeline
How long will it take to get dental implants to replace missing teeth? Unfortunately, you must prepare for the long haul if you intend to have a reliable and long-lasting replacement solution for the teeth you lost.
Dental implants considered the gold standard for missing teeth replacements are standalone applications but depend on your dental and general health to determine how long you might require to replace your natural teeth. The initial steps may require 3 to 6 months and extend to 12 months or more in some cases. Every patient is unique and reacts differently to the dental implant surgical process. However, you can get a rough estimate of how long you must endure the treatment before having natural-looking artificial teeth over the implant.
If you are curious about the timeline before getting your artificial teeth, we suggest you continue reading this article for the information you desire.
Initial Consultation
Your initial consultation starts with a visit to the dentist near me to ascertain whether you are eligible for dental implants because these prosthetics are not suitable for everyone. The dentist will perform a comprehensive oral exam to ensure your mouth is healthy to receive dental implants. They will schedule your implant surgery if you qualify for dental implants.
Pretreatment Procedures
Many patients have inadequate jawbones, requiring pretreatment surgeries like bone grafts or sinus lifts when preparing for dental implants. Depending on your general and oral health, these procedures may require three to 12 months of healing before you receive implants in your jawbone.
Dental Implant Placement
Dental implants are placed in your jawbone a couple of weeks after your initial consultation if you don’t need pretreatment surgeries. Dental implants in Baltimore, MD, will set the implants beneath your gums in the jawbone. The surgical site is cleaned and sutured to promote healing before you return home.
Recovery from the Surgical Procedure
You require between one and two weeks for the primary healing. However, the dental implant must also integrate with your body in an osseointegration process, needing three to six months or longer. The osseointegration process ensures the implant fuses with your jawbone to become a natural body part.
Implant Restoration Buildup
Building your implant restoration starts simultaneously as you recover from your implant placement process. It would help if you visited the Baltimore dentist as you heal for the dentist to take impressions of your mouth, gums, teeth, and implant. The information is for the dental lab to build your implant restoration in the form of a dental crowns near you.
Abutment Placement
A couple of weeks before your final appointment, you must visit the Baltimore specialist to have an abutment placed. The abutment is an attachment on which your artificial dental implant restoration will sit. The procedure involves folding back gum tissue during your appointment and placing the abutment and a healing collar on the abutment to prevent the gums from healing around it.
Placing Your Final Restoration
About two weeks after abutment placement, you return to the Baltimore specialist for your final appointment. Again, the dentist removes the healing collar and checks the implant-supported restoration to ensure it fits appropriately. Finally, they will permanently bond it to complete getting dental implants near you.
How Long Does the Implant Procedure Last?
The timeline for the dental implant procedure differs between patients. Factors like your dental and general health, pretreatment procedures you may require, and how well you care for the implant after placement determine the total timeline when getting dental implants for your missing teeth.
Dental implants, unlike dentures or bridges, require no surgery or extensive healing times because they sit on your gums and are not embedded in your jawbone. The implant process may seem lengthy and require an upfront investment considerably higher than the alternatives. However, you possess a restoration that lasts for life, unlike dentures or bridges needing replacement every five to 10 years. In addition, implants appear, function, and feel like your natural teeth enabling you to speak, smile, and eat the foods you love without the challenges of alternative solutions. Therefore if you desire a permanent replacement solution for your missing teeth and have chosen dental implants, you must prepare for the long haul and endure the challenges once before you get your replacement teeth.
If you want to learn more about dental implants and how they benefit your dental health Canton Crossing Dental in Baltimore provides dental implants. Kindly arrange an appointment with them to determine your candidature for dental implants during the consultation to get started with the planning for implant placement.