When patients hear the word dental implant, they tend to visualise an entire false tooth. But the reality is that dental implants are made up of different components:
- The actual implant or titanium piece that is surgically embedded into your jaw isn’t visible above the gum line and requires other parts before the procedure is finalised.
- The abutment or extension piece. Your dental implant has an extension called the abutment connected to it once the dental implant has osseointegrated with your jaw bone.
- The dental crown
The part of the tooth that will be visible to you and other people is actually a dental crown, and this is placed last in the dental implant procedure.
Each of these procedures will be done separately and will require a waiting and healing period of a few months to pass before the next stage can be embarked upon.
How Long Does A Dental Implant Procedure Take?
Other considerations that impact your treatment timeline include:
Bone grafts
If your tooth has been missing for a long period of time it is possible that you have experienced bone loss in the jaw below the missing tooth. Dental implants require a certain amount of strong healthy jaw in order for them to osseointegrate, so if this is not available and you meet all the other eligibility criteria, your dental practitioner may recommend a bone graft.
If you only need a little bone, your dental practitioner may be able to perform a minor bone graft just before the surgical placement of your dental implants. If you need a major graft, it will be done as a separate procedure and you will be required to undergo a healing period before your dental practitioner can continue with the dental implant procedure.
How many dental implants do you need?
A dental implant can usually be placed in a surgery that lasts for an hour or two but if you are having multiple implants, it will take longer.
How quickly do you heal?
A large portion of the process is dedicated to healing, and everyone heals at a different pace. If you are a smoker your dentist will want you to quit before you can have dental implants because it can slow down your ability to heal. If you have a chronic condition that inhibits your body’s ability to heal your dentist will probably recommend an alternative tooth replacement.
It’s important to follow your dentist’s post-operative care instructions after your dental implant procedure so you can heal quickly. Keeping the site clean plays a major role in the healing process so you must maintain a high standard of oral hygiene.
To find out more about how long does a dental implant procedure take, please contact us for an appointment: 02 8894 1007.
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