HOW LONG DOES PERMANENT DENTURES PLACEMENT TAKE?

Every smile is different‚ so the amount of time it takes to get permanent dentures is different from person to person․ Some patients may have all the needed treatment done in a few months‚ and others require a year or more․ Your oral health‚ bone structure‚ healing abilities‚ and need for tooth extraction or bone grafting will also affect how long the process will take․

At your first visit‚ your dentist will check your teeth and gums‚ talk to you about your medical history and take images of your jaw․ They will help you determine whether you are a good candidate for dental implants and help your dentist create a treatment plan that's just right for you․ One hour is typically all you need for this appointment‚ but it will lay the groundwork for every step afterward․

Teeth that need to be extracted can be removed prior to the placement of dental implants or during the implant placement surgery․ Some patients may have dental implants placed into the extraction sites during the same appointment․ Others may require healing of the sites prior to dental implant placement․

Bone grafting procedures may be required if bone loss has occurred․ Bone loss leads to jaw shrinkage‚ and grafts are used to provide enough bone for dental implants․ Healing from bone grafting can take several months․ This is one of the most common delays in treatment‚ but bone grafting can increase long-term success and retention of permanent dentures․

Implant placement is typically performed as an outpatient procedure and performed in a single appointment․ Implant placement itself may take from one to three hours‚ depending on the number of implants placed‚ whether one or both arches are treated‚ and patient tolerance․ While the procedure is routinely performed under local anesthesia‚ sedation may be used to minimize discomfort․

The most important part of the implant surgery is the healing process․ During this time, the implant fuses with the jawbone in a process called osseointegration‚ which forms the anchor for the permanent dentures․ Healing usually takes three to six months․ The exact healing time depends on your general health and how quickly you recover from surgery․

Normally, you won't be without teeth while you heal‚ and your dentist may provide you with a temporary denture while the implants integrate into the bone and heal completely․ After healing is complete‚ impressions or a digital scan of your mouth can be sent to a laboratory to create a permanent denture‚ with a dental lab making the prosthesis to fit your bite‚ face‚ and smile․

The final placement appointment is usually the shortest‚ where your dentist attaches your final denture to the implants after it has been completed․ They check your bite and make adjustments to the part of your implant that's visible in your mouth to make it fit comfortably․ They'll explain how to clean your restoration and how to care for your implants at home․

If you have more questions about permanent dentures or how they could affect your dental health, make an appointment with the dentist to see if permanent dentures are the best treatment plan for you.

Related Article: Are Permanent Dentures Right for You?