Restoring your smile with dental implants has the potential to change your life. Imagine, being able to once again enjoy the food you love, speak clearly, and smile with confidence. So, it’s understandable that you’d be eager to get your surgery underway. If you’re curious about what to expect from treatment, namely how long it will take, here’s a closer look at the process, and how to make your recovery go as smoothly as possible.
The Consultation
The beginning of any dental implant journey is the consultation with your dentist. There, he will examine your teeth and gums and customize a treatment plan. This will include any preliminary treatment you may need, payment options, and a more accurate timeline.
Preparatory Treatment
If you need any preliminary treatment, this must be done before your dental implant surgery. Procedures such as sinus lifts, bone grafts, tooth extractions, or gum disease treatments may be required. You will need to heal completely from them before you can move on to the next phase.
Dental Implant Surgery
Once your mouth is ready, your dentist will schedule you for dental implant surgery. At this stage, the dental implant post will be secured into your jawbone, where it will fully integrate over the coming months. This is known as osseointegration. Once this step is completed, you will return to get your implant abutments, and then finally your crowns.
The surgery itself can take between one and two hours for one implant, and longer if you are receiving multiple.
Recovering from Dental Implant Surgery
Once your dental implant surgery is completed, you will need to take time to heal before the next step. This can take around three months before your mouth is ready for the implant abutments. During the abutment surgery, your dentist will need to make incisions in the gum tissue to access your dental implant. You will need to be numb for the procedure, but the healing process should be much more comfortable and briefer than it was with the implant posts. Once you have healed, you’ll be ready for the placement of your new crowns!
Making Recovery Easier
To ensure that your recovery process goes smoothly at every stage, follow your dentist’s aftercare instructions as closely as possible. These were designed to not only help keep pain at a minimum, but also to ensure that you do not develop any complications such as dry socket, infection, or dental implant failure.
Remember, while it’s natural to be a little impatient about getting your new smile underway, the dental implant process could take many months from start to finish. The great news is that because it’s permanent, once your restorations are in place, you’ll be able to enjoy them for a lifetime without ever having to worry about replacing them or going through the process again!
About Our Practice
At Water’s Edge Dental, our team of talented and caring dentists, Dr. Bannan and Dr. Rolfes can’t wait to see you smile! If you’re ready to restore your gorgeous grin with the help of dental implants, there’s no time like the present to get started! To make the first step and schedule your dental implant consultation, please visit our website or call us today at 386-516-4351.