“What is the dental implant procedure like?”
I’m considering dental implants for a missing tooth. What is the procedure like, the recovery time, and the long-term maintenance involved?
3 Answers
DentistDentist
The dental implant procedure typically involves:
1. **Initial Consultation**: The dentist evaluates your oral health and discusses the implant options.
2. **Surgical Placement**: The implant (a titanium post) is placed into the jawbone. This requires anesthesia and takes about 1-2 hours.
3. **Healing Period**: The bone needs to fuse with the implant, which takes about 3-6 months.
4. **Abutment Placement**: After healing, an abutment is attached to the implant, followed by a crown to complete the restoration.
**Recovery**: Most people take 1-2 weeks to recover from surgery, with some discomfort during the initial stages. Full healing can take a few months.
**Long-Term Maintenance**: Brush and floss regularly, visit your dentist for check-ups, and avoid habits like teeth grinding to maintain the implant’s health.
Dental implants are durable and can last 20 years or more with proper care.
1. **Initial Consultation**: The dentist evaluates your oral health and discusses the implant options.
2. **Surgical Placement**: The implant (a titanium post) is placed into the jawbone. This requires anesthesia and takes about 1-2 hours.
3. **Healing Period**: The bone needs to fuse with the implant, which takes about 3-6 months.
4. **Abutment Placement**: After healing, an abutment is attached to the implant, followed by a crown to complete the restoration.
**Recovery**: Most people take 1-2 weeks to recover from surgery, with some discomfort during the initial stages. Full healing can take a few months.
**Long-Term Maintenance**: Brush and floss regularly, visit your dentist for check-ups, and avoid habits like teeth grinding to maintain the implant’s health.
Dental implants are durable and can last 20 years or more with proper care.
From consultation until you have an implant crown to chew on, is a number of months. The recovery time is a couple of days. I have several implants. Sit and chill the rest of the day of placement. Avoid exercise that elevates your heart rate for a week. Do NOT chew on the newly placed implant. Typically about 3 months after the implant is placed, it can be checked for its connection to the jaw, then the crown can be made. A few weeks or so for the laboratory to make the crown and the crown can be attached to the implant.
The implant procedure has changed significantly over the years. It is now much easier, quicker, and more predictable than in previous years. It is also important to see the right provider to ensure the ease, efficiency, and success. The implant process begins with a detailed consultation and evaluation by a trained implant surgeon, such as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon or periodontist. They will evaluate the area of the missing tooth, looking at the bone quality and quantity with a CBCT (3D x-ray), and the surrounding teeth to make sure a custom tooth will fit the space and implant. Newer techniques such as 3D printed surgical guides or dynamic navigation are used to accurately place the implants. Guided surgery is quickly becoming the standard of care. Once placed, the implant has to heal for 3 months, and then a restorative dentist will make a custom crown that screws into the implant. Following the surgery, the area with be sore for a couple of days, but the discomfort is usually easily managed with ibuprofen and Tylenol. Narcotic pain medication is rarely needed for single site implants. The long term maintenance is the same as your natural teeth, and includes brushing twice per day, flossing daily, and routine 6-month visits with your dentist for professional cleanings. Dr. Dustin Haupt Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon [cid:image001.png@01DB8F2D.8FA7A2F0] 14769 W. 87th Pkwy. Arvada, CO 80005 Office: (720) 798-1200 Cell: (303) 242-7467
