How long does a Dental Implant procedure take?

A dental implant is an orthodontic anchor that provides support for a restorative dental prosthesis like a crown, denture or bridge. It can also provide support to a facial prosthesis made to restore the structure of the face. An implant can also be referred to as a fixture or an endosseous implant. It is a surgical piece placed on the edge of the jaw. Basically, these are posts that are placed in the patients jaw so that teeth can be replaced onto them.

In dentistry today, a dental implant is placed in a process known as osseointegration. This is the process where materials such as titanium are used to form a bond with the bone, and that ensures the implant remains in place permanently. Osseointegration is a process that takes time to occur and one of the reasons the procedure of placing a dental implant is done in phases.

Once you have settled on a dental implant as the dental fix for your problem, it is important to familiarise yourself with a few aspects that play into the success of the whole process and also prepare you for it. Here are a few things you should know before you go for a dental implant.

Clear your day on the day of the procedure

A dental implant does not have a fixed recovery time, therefore; the dentist can’t tell you how long it will take for you. People heal differently and you can’t tell how long it will take for any one individual. This only means that you may have to forego your appointments for the day, not cancel a whole week.

Every surgery is unique

A lot of people think that their family traits matter a lot when it comes to medical issues but it doesn’t have to be true for every type of procedure. This means that your brother’s dental procedure has no bearing on what outcome you should expect in your own. All that matters is the condition affecting the patient and what needs to be done to correct it. The rest is purely up to your dental care practitioner.

Your jaw bone won’t heal in a day

The first thing you need to know about the procedure is that it is not a one-step affair and will take some time before the whole process is finished. In this period, you will have to be prepared for a lot of waiting and watching so that nothing goes wrong. If you might have been thinking of the procedure as a one-day affair, you should ready yourself because it takes a bit longer.

Any trigger oral health problems have to be dealt with first

Implantation cannot be done if there is an underlying issue that remains unsolved. Problems such as gum disease and tooth decay should be dealt with first before anything else can be done. Such issues can worsen problems after implantation.

If you are a smoker, you will have to put it on hold for a while

A dental implant takes some time to anchor to the bone and during this time, smokers are advised not to smoke. Cigarette smoke has a negative effect on the process of osseointergration which is how the bone and the implant bind together. Smoking through this period largely reduces the chances of successful osseointergration.

You’ll have to make a stop at the pharmacy

After the first phase of the procedure is done, the dentist will prescribe some antibiotics to help prevent infection.

Have a stock of soft foods in the fridge

After a dental implant procedure is done, patients typically have to stick to a soft-food diet for about a week or maybe longer. This is usually so that the implant can have time to settle and for the patient to get used to it too. It is very important to observe this and allow the implant time to heal. This also means that you will have to stay away from sugary foods since too much sugar can hinder the healing process. Soups and green smoothies are some of the best soft foods you can eat at this time.

Consultation and candidacy

You need to meet up with your dentist, orthodontist, oral surgeon, prosthodontist or periodontist to determine whether you qualify for a dental implant. At this evaluation, you dentist examines your dental health, including your medical history. While examining your teeth, the dentist will also check bone density which determines whether your bone structure can support the implant. In a lot of cases where the medical condition has been left to go untreated for long, bone density is a major issue as missing teeth can adversely affect bone density at the jaw.

The oral health of your dental tissue is an important consideration before you can get the go-ahead to receive an implant. If the patient has been observing proper oral hygiene, there shouldn’t be much of a problem. However, sometimes a bone or tissue graft is required in cases of deteriorated dental health. This could also prompt the use of mini implants.

All these considerations determine how long the procedure will last for each case. This involves how long each phase of the procedure will take and how many consultations you may need through this period. Sedation dentistry can also be considered at this stage as well as how much the procedure will take. The cost of such a procedure can vary due to a number of issues. Therefore, each patient is charged according to what they need and what type of treatment they choose.

Preparation phase

This is the phase where a bone graft is done if need be and a CT scan is done too. At this stage the dentist also takes an X-ray of the mouth to get a good view of the region where the implant should be placed. It may also include a 3D imaging scan which gives a clear view of the patient’s dental formula and how exactly to execute the procedure. The scans are mostly important for the dental lab which needs a clear picture of the gap to be filled and how the prosthetic should be designed.

Tooth extraction also occurs at this stage. If there are no oral health issues to worry about such a sinus graft or bone augmentation, the dentists will proceed to remove the decayed tooth in cases where it is still intact. Patients with missing teeth simply move on to the next phase.

This is the phase where the actual implant is placed in your jaw. A titanium rod is placed in place to fuse with the bone tissue and become the new root for the prosthetic.

Local anesthesia is used to numb the affected region before the surgery begins. Once the anesthesia takes effect, the dental practitioner moves on to make an incision in your gum to expose the jaw bone where the implant should be placed. The implant is screwed into place and your gum stitched over it using only one or two stiches.

Implantation of the artificial root takes about 1-2 hours to complete. After it is done, the dental practitioner will place an artificial crown to cover the space left by the extracted tooth.

Once this phase is executed, the patient is allowed about 3 months of healing. Healing involves integration of the artificial root into your bone structure. This period can be thought of as recovery time even though it doesn’t exactly fit the description. While the patient is left with slight bruising and swelling from the procedure, it is nothing to take 3 months of healing. The main aspect of this period that makes it so vital is bone infusion with the titanium implant, what we technically refer to as osseointergration. When the process finally comes to an end, the implant forms a strong base on which a prosthetic can be mounted and lasts a lifetime.

Even though the standard amount of time given for osseointergration is 3 months, patients have been known to heal in a shorter time span. There are patients who only need 4-6 weeks to recover from the implantation process and are ready to move on to the next step. In other cases, the process may drag on through the entire period of healing. This ultimately depends on factors such as the patient’s oral health and the type of implantation procedure done.

The abutment is a base on which the crown is placed and sits between the implant and the crown. If the dental practitioner determines that bone fusion has successfully taken place, the patient moves on to this step.

The jaw bone will have to be exposed again for the abutment to be put in place since it is attached to the implant. The abutment is placed as a shock absorber between the prosthetic tooth and the implant. Once the abutment is put in place, the porcelain crown can also be attached immediately. In other cases the porcelain crown may be fitted in a separate visit. However, you are better of having it fixed as soon as possible to shorten the length of the process, allowing you to resume full use of your mouth as soon as possible. The option to place the crown immediately after is only viable though if the dentist deems it okay according to how the process has been for you as a patient up to this point. Doctors will often choose to place the crown after the region heals upon placement of the abutment if there have been any complications before, just as a precautionary measure.

When the patient requires a separate fitting, it may be done a month or so after the abutment is placed. At this visit, you will find your porcelain crown waiting for you, ready to be attached. It takes no more than half an hour to complete the process and you finally have your dental implant procedure complete.

Getting a dental fitting requires the person to exercise patience and extra dental care throughout the process. Considering the time taken from the consultation and consideration to the final fitting, it can take anything from 3 to 9 months.

As you may have noticed, different features connected to the procedure can prolong it for much longer than it should take. The healing capabilities of individual patients also matter since each patient heals in their own time. As such, it is important to have a discussion with your dentist to find out how long it may take for you, all factors considered.

Dental implants are cared for just like normal teeth and do not require any special oral care products to maintain. The patient can go on with their normal oral care routine, and no complications should arise as long as they adheres to flossing and brushing the teeth twice a day. You doctor will advise you on the exact way in which you can maintain your implants for a longer period.

Implants are fixed into the jaw bone and provide a stable support for dentures, prosthetic teeth and bridges.

There are two types of implants which are generally used for restorative and aesthetic purposes. You can choose between a regular implant and a mini implant. Regular implants can be used to restore a single tooth or more using crowns or bridges.

There are two types of regular implants that have been approved by the Australian Dental Association as being safe for patients to use for their restorative dental procedures;

· Endosteal implants:

Endosteal implants are surgically inserted into the jaw bone directly. These are placed through the process already explained in the article. They take more than a few months to be fully functional.

· Subperiosteal implants

These are not as invasive as the first option and are placed on the jaw bone right under the gum tissue. Such an implant consists of a frame and posts attached to it that protrude over the gum. Artificial teeth can then be mounted on the frame.

These are implants meant for patients who lack sufficient bone structure to allow for conventional implants. They are also a good option when the gap to be filled is not too large or when regular implants require support after years of service.

The implants are a fraction of a millimeter smaller than regular implants and can be offered to people who don’t need major dental work done. They are much less invasive than normal implants and take a shorter time to fix. This is one of the major reasons why most people prefer this type of procedure over conventional implants.

Many people who don’t qualify for regular implants often go for mini implants and skip the whole bone graft procedure. In comparison with regular implants, mini implants offer a less invasive procedure that takes a shorter span of time to heal, and is less painful and costly.

Aside from attaching prosthetics right on top of implants, patients can also receive other services that require the use of an implant. The dental procedures include:

Fixed bridge work

Bridges differ from implants; they are not the same thing. A bridge would typically be a set of teeth placed into a gap within the mouth to cover a missing tooth. The normal way of installing a bridge uses the adjacent teeth as support for the missing tooth. Dentine from the support teeth is shaped into support frames that hold on to artificial crowns. In a scenario where dental implants are required, the bridge gets support from the implants. The implant provides a strong support for the bridge which can be taken out at any time. This is usually applied for single tooth bridges which the patient can take off and put back on at will.

Over-dentures

An over-denture is ideal for people who have lost an entire set of teeth in a single jaw. The structure will provide support for the artificial set of teeth and prevents them from moving around in the mouth or causing resorption as they rub against the gum line which is very harmful to bone density as it causes wearing.

Tooth movement

People who have stayed with gaps between teeth for a long time often experience bite problems due to movement of the teeth to fill space which occurs gradually over time. Dentists use implants when such teeth need to be moved around a little to realign them. A dental implant will keep the teeth from moving and help the patient return to normalcy.

While the length of the process and the surgical technicality of the procedure may scare most people into seeking alternative options, it is also important to understand what you stand to benefit with this procedure. Many patients have switched and gone for implants after realizing just how well such a procedure applies to their condition. In this section, you will learn about both the long-term and short-term the benefits of going for an implant.

You don’t have to worry about your teeth once you have a dental implant in place

One of the main aspects of having to live with missing teeth is the social awkwardness they present. You don’t have to stay at home and avoid public interactions once you have implants. Most of all, implants relieve you of the constant fear that your prosthetics may choose to act up at the worst moments.

Dental implants are the best option if you are thinking of replacing lost teeth

Dental implants are the next best thing after natural teeth. They are stable, long-lasting and have cosmetic appeal as well. The implant feels and functions like a normal tooth. What’s more, you don’t have to worry about tooth aches when you have them.

You retain your natural facial structure

This is mostly a concern to people who have lost a whole set of teeth. Dentures do solve the problem but they don’t stop bone wasting as dental implants would. The sunken appearance that comes from staying without a set of teeth for long is nothing to worry about once you get your implants in place.

It’s cost-effective when you think about it

Tooth-supported bridges last for about 5 to 7 years and that is about as long as most restorative procedures will last. With proper care- flossing regularly and brushing at least twice per day-the bridge can serve you for up to 10 years even though they may need recurrent checkups to ensure optimum function. However, when it comes to dental implants, you can consider the problem handled for good. Implants may need periodic adjustments which will keep them functioning just right for a lifetime. This makes them the best option you have if you are thinking in terms of costs. The cost of follow up consultations in the case of other restorative procedures, eventually racks up and makes it more expensive to cater for your pearly whites in the long term.

No cavities to worry about

Dental implants are made from strong material that can last a lifetime without degenerating. All you will be needed to do is visit your dental health specialist like you would if you had your natural teeth.

Having dental implants should be one of the first options in your mind when you think about a procedure that offers long-term benefits and the freedom you need. If you have missing teeth that need replacing or decayed teeth that are bound to fall off, you can rest assured in the knowledge that a dental implant will help you fix the problem for good.