Dental Implants Treatment Timeline By on January 31, 2014

The dental implant treatment process can take an extended amount of time, however, the end results make the wait worth it! Dental implant treatment is quite a time commitment, generally taking three to six months to complete, and, depending on the state of the jawbone and number of implants, it may take even more time. To find out your personalized dental implant treatment timeline, we welcome you to schedule a consultation at Dr. Clint Newman's Nashville cosmetic dentistry practice.

The Dental Implant Process Timeline

Your actual timeline may vary based on your implant requirements and personal healing times. The following is a general overview of the dental implants timeline.

Jawbone Assessment and Preparation (Zero to Nine Months)

The first stage of the dental implant process is assessing the jawbone using x-rays. When teeth are missing for an extended period of time, the jawbone will recede where there are no teeth. If the jawbone has receded too much, a bone graft may need to be done to rebuild the jaw. If a bone graft is required, the dental implant treatment process will require more time. A bone graft can add an additional five to nine months onto the treatment timeline, as plenty of time is needed to ensure the bone graft and natural jawbone are sufficiently integrated and healed.

Dental Implant Surgery

Once the jaw is determined sufficient for receiving the dental implant, the implant can be placed. The dental implant procedure is minor oral surgery, performed on an outpatient basis. The implant is embedded within the jawbone to act as a replacement tooth root. Many patients who have undergone the procedure equate the pain to about the same level as a tooth extraction. An abutment, the piece that attaches the dental restoration to the implant, is sometime placed at this point or will be placed after the jaw heals.

Osseointegration (Two to Six Months)

Osseointegration is the next process in the dental implant timeline. Osseointegration is the process in which the jawbone grows and bonds to the implant. Osseointegration is a vital stage to dental implant treatment. If osseointegration is not successful, the implant will fail. This process may take anywhere from two to six months to fully complete.

Placing the Abutment (One to Two weeks)

If the abutment was not placed during the initial dental implant procedure, it will need to be placed before the dental restoration can be attached to complete the treatment. In order to place the abutment, the gum tissue will be opened to access the dental implant. The abutment will then be attached. The gums will need to heal for about one to two weeks before the next and final step can be performed.

Dental Restoration Placement

After all healing is complete, the dental implant (or implants) will be ready for the final step, dental restoration placement. Depending on the treatment plan, either a dental crown, implant-supported bridge, or implant-supported dentures will be attached to the dental implant. Once the restoration is attached, treatment will be complete.