If you’re like millions of Americans, you’re missing at least one tooth. If you’re ready to fill in the gap with a natural look and restore your oral health, we have a solution for you.
Dental implants are a popular solution for missing teeth as your dentist can take an artificial tooth, implant it into your jawbone, and top it with an artificial tooth that resembles a natural tooth.
Like many patients, you’re probably wondering, “How long does a dental implant procedure take?” We must take into consideration many factors, and we break these factors down into three stages.
Stages of a Dental Implant Procedure
A dental implant procedure is NOT a one-day or same-day visit. If you do not allow time for the implant to integrate, then you are setting yourself up for failure. To ensure long-term success, it’s important to follow these three stages.
Stage 1: Dental Exam and Preparation
Before any dental implant procedure, your dentist will want a comprehensive exam to evaluate your existing dental health. A dental exam often includes 3D x-ray scans so that the dentist can get a good look at your bone structure and the implant site. These scans also ensure your jawbone and gums are healthy and sufficient enough to support implants.
If you need a tooth extraction or if bone grafting is necessary due to a long-time missing tooth, then step one of the dental implant procedure will take three to six months. When a tooth is missing for a long period of time, the bone is lost. This means replacing the tooth is vital when receiving dental implants and reducing the cost and time of the process.
Stage 2: Implant Surgery
In step two, the actual implant surgery begins. Lasting up to two hours, your dentist places a titanium implant right below the gums in your jawbone. Once complete, most dentists wait three months before the final step of restoring the tooth replacement. It takes time for the implant to merge into the bone, so the healing process is critical to ensuring a successful dental implant procedure.
Stage 3: Artificial Tooth or Crown Placement
In the last step of a dental implant procedure, the dentist places an artificial tooth on the root that was previously placed in your jaw. Impressions of your mouth with the new tooth or teeth are made so that the color, shape, and size are correct. This last step typically takes two visits within two weeks.
Call Hoboken Oral Surgeons, LLC for Dental Implants
Once you notice a missing tooth (or teeth), it’s vital to contact a trusted dentist. Early treatment not only helps save and restore your oral health but also reduces the overall time frame it takes for dental implant procedures.
Whether you’re missing teeth or teeth are damaged and decayed, dental implants can fill in the gap and give you the confidence you’ve been missing. If you’re ready to restore your smile and oral health, our experienced staff at Hoboken Oral Surgeons, LLC is here to help. Contact us today at 212-696-2677.