Lake Norman Oral & Facial Surgery • Dr. Raymond J. Haigney II • 9727 Northcross Center Ct. Huntersville, NC 28078 • (704) 987-3132
9727 Northcross Center Ct. Huntersville, NC 28078 • (704) 987-3132
How Long Do Dental Implants Take?
Dental implants in huntersville nc are a stable and long-lasting restoration option if you have one or more missing teeth. Implants do take a longer time to complete than some other restorative treatments since there is healing time between steps. Immediate implants, where the implant is placed directly following an extraction, are an option but may not be the best treatment for everyone. After your treatment has been discussed, the following are the steps to receiving your dental implant.
Consultation and Examination
Once your dentist has determined that your best course of treatment is extraction and implant, you will be referred to an Oral Surgeon for an evaluation. During this visit, you may have x-rays taken and the doctor will evaluate the site in question and develop a treatment plan in conjunction with your dentist.
Surgical Procedures
You may require extraction and/or bone grafting to prepare the site for the implant but for now, we will just review the timeframe for the actual implant placement. Your surgeon will screw a titanium impant into your jawbone and fit a healing cap over the implant. The surgery takes one to two hours per implant.
Healing Time
12 weeks is usually the longest timeframe needed for the implant to integrate into the jawbone. During this time, you will be visiting your surgeon’s office periodically so they can track your progress. Once they are satisfied with the integration, a letter of release will be sent to your dentist informing them that you are ready for restoration.
Abutment and Crown Placement
Once your dentist has received the go-ahead from your Oral Surgeon, your dentist will have you come into their office for impressions so your new tooth can be fabricated at a dental lab. A couple of weeks after your impressions appointment, your case should be ready to be placed.
Your dentist will remove the healing cap to expose the implant and place the abutment and crown on the implant, securing it in place with a screw. The implant crown will have an access hole for the screw and once in place, your dentist will fill the hole with composite, the same material used for fillings, to cover the screw.
Additional Healing Time
If you do require an extraction, bone graft or sinus lift, these all have to be completed and allowed to heal before the implant can be placed. This can add another four to eight weeks of healing time. Overall, an implant restoration can take between three and nine months since everyone’s healing time is different.
While implants are not for immediate gratification, they are the most aesthetically pleasing and sturdiest option when you are needing to replace a missing tooth. They are easier to care for than other replacement options and are likely to last your entire lifetime if cared for properly. Therefore it is important that you maintain good oral hygiene and see both your dentist and oral surgeon regularly.
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