How Long Does a Dental Implant Take?

When it comes to replacing missing teeth,

have emerged as a top-notch, everlasting solution due to various benefits they offer; from biocompatibility to longevity, no other treatment can beat them. If you are exploring your options for tooth replacement, consider getting one to lead a hassle-free life. However, you must bear in mind that

getting implants is not a walk in the park, and it usually takes as long as 5 to 10 months to fully start enjoying its benefits.

But trust us, the results are worth your time and money; let us explain you how.

Dental Implantation Process – Timeline

You must be wondering why it takes so long to get them. Here's a stage-wise breakdown that will clear things out.

Stage 1 - Evaluation and Preparation

The journey is long and begins with an intensely elaborated evaluation of your oral and overall health that necessitates whether potential bone grafting is required or not after tooth extraction. For this, they use a CT scan to clearly picture the existing dentition and the bone structure at the implant site. If additional bone grafting is deemed necessary, this initial phase may extend from 3 to 6 months. You must be thinking about the importance of bone grafting. Well, it becomes imperative when a tooth has been missing for a long time, and without living roots, your jaw bone degenerates by slowly losing its density, which is a must for stable implantation. During the first year of tooth loss, bone depletion occurs at twice the normal rate. Therefore, early placement of the artificial root is essential to minimize the cost of dental implants and also to speed up the overall process.

Stage 2 - Artificial Root Placement

Moving on to stage 2. The base or artificial root implantation into the bone can take as long as 1 to 2 hours, after which a recovery period of 3 to 6 months starts. Their exceptional healing process sets dental implants apart, with the titanium implant easily integrating with the surrounding bone tissue; there is no complication of tissue rejection.

Stage 3 - Placement of the Abutment and Crown

Once you reach the final stage, it is time to have a lifelike dental crown over the abutment affixed in your jaw. This step involves taking an impression of your mouth meticulously so that the new tooth matches perfectly in size, shape, and color. Usually, stage 3 commences over 2 visits spaced out in a span of two weeks.

The Role of Additional Treatments

In case your implant specialist suspects and finds out about a budding or already proliferated periodontal disease, it is a major hurdle to the surgery. The whole operation is put on hold until the infection goes away. The priority is treating gum disease before progressing with tooth replacement. The duration of this treatment varies, ranging from a few weeks to several months, based on the severity of the infection.

Bone Grafting

You might be unaware of the impact oral health issues have on the jawbone's structure. Issues like advanced gum disease or prolonged absence of a tooth lead to bone degeneration, jeopardizing the stability required for implant placement. When such is the case, jaw reconstruction becomes a requirement, adding 3-4 months in the name of healing.

Closing Note

The journey of placing dental implants involves a well-defined process that starts from evaluating your oral health to artificial root and final crown placement. Deep knowledge about each phase and the associated timelines helps you determine why the entire procedure takes a long time. You can get in touch with our implant specialists, Dr. Saam Zarrabi, D.D.S., and Dr. Yahya Mansour, D.D.S., M.S., F.A.G.D, F.I.C.O.I., along with their team at

Rodeo Dental and Orthodontics

for any more questions

. We serve multiple locations, and our aim is to bring quality dental care to you. Schedule an appointment with us at your convenience by dialing