What Are The Steps To Getting A Tooth Implant?
The complete dental implant process can take several months in most cases. But the specific details of the dental implant timeline depend on numerous factors, including your oral health, whether you need tooth extraction before dental implants if you need bone grafts for dental implants, the type of dental implants used, and other factors. While the specific dental implant steps vary from one individual to the next, we have offered a general overview of what you can expect from your dental implant procedure.
Step 1: Initial Consultation
Your dental implant process starts with an initial consultation with the dental implant specialist. The dental implant dentist will examine your teeth, administer dental x-rays and other imaging tests, review your medical history, and curate a personalized dental implant treatment plan for you. We also discuss all of your dental implant options, including the material options, types of implants, and the possibility of bone grafts for dental implants.
Step 2: Tooth Extraction Before Dental Implant (If Necessary)
Some patients need dental extraction before implants. If you have a severely diseased, decayed, or infected tooth, we may have to perform a surgical extraction before offering dental implants. During the surgical tooth extraction, the dentist will cut the surrounding bone tissues to dislodge the infected tooth and extract it completely. The dental implant surgery can be performed immediately after tooth extraction or after a few weeks, depending on your condition.
Step 3: Bone Graft For Dental Implant (If Necessary)
Bone grafts for dental implants are necessary for patients with insufficient bone density. If you don’t have enough jawbone, the dental implant won’t fuse with the bone structure properly, leading to a higher risk of dental implant failure. Patients with insufficient bone density need a bone grafting procedure before dental implant surgery. After bone grafting, you may have to wait for a few months before dental implant surgery.
Step 4: Dental Implant Surgery
During dental implant surgery, the dental implant dentist drills an access hole into the jawbone underneath the empty socket of the missing tooth. The ceramic or titanium implant is drilled into the jawbone, following which the gingival tissues are sutured. The dental implant surgery usually takes around 1 to 2 hours, following which the recovery period starts.
Step 5: Osseointegration (Recovery Period)
After dental implant surgery, your body initiates the osseointegration process. Osseointegration is a natural process whereby your jawbone tissues fuse with the implant surgery, making the dental implant a firmly rooted part of your dental anatomy. The osseointegration process takes around 6 months, during which the implant site should not be disturbed.
Step 6: Dental Implant Abutment Procedure
After osseointegration, the dental implant dentist will re-open the sutured gingival site and place a dental implant abutment, i.e., a connector that links the implant to the final dental implant restoration. In some cases, the gum tissues will be allowed to heal for a few weeks after dental implant abutment. But, in other cases, the dental implant restoration is done immediately after abutment placement.
Step 7: Dental Implant Restoration
The dental implant dentist will take impressions of your teeth with the implant and abutment. Based on the impressions, the dentist will produce a dental crown or bridge, depending on your needs. The final dental implant restoration is attached to the abutment, thereby replacing your missing teeth. The dental implant restoration looks indistinguishable from natural teeth.
How Long Is Recovery After Dental Implants?
In most cases, the recovery period after dental implant surgery only lasts for 1 to 2 days, though you may have certain dietary restrictions for a week or more. But the recovery period also depends on your body’s healing capabilities, the number of implants placed during your dental implant procedure, and whether you need bone grafts for dental implants. While the active recovery period only takes a few days, your body will also go through the osseointegration process, which may last for around 6 months.
Can Dental Implants Be Done In One Day?
The complete dental implant process usually takes several months because the dentist must wait for osseointegration to complete before attaching the final dental implant restoration. That’s because placing a dental implant restoration too early can disturb the osseointegration process, leading to a higher risk of dental implant failure. But, in some cases, if all the conditions are good, the dental implant dentist can provide temporary crowns the same day as the dental implant surgery, allowing you to walk out of the dental clinic with a new smile.
How Much Is An Implant For One Tooth?
The price of dental implants depends on numerous factors, including the material (zirconia or titanium), the type of implant used (endosteal or subperiosteal), the size of the implant, the location of the implant, and the type of implant restoration (crowns, bridges, or dentures). Your dental implant specialist must provide a complete overview of your dental implant costs before your procedure so you know what to expect. We believe in complete transparency — we provide a breakdown of the costs involved at every stage of the dental implant procedure in advance.
Schedule An Appointment For Your Dental Implant Procedure At Our Dental Office In Houston, TX 77027
Emergency Dentist in Houston is a state-of-the-art dental clinic specializing in cutting-edge dental implant surgeries in Houston. Our dental clinic is led by some of the country’s leading dental implant specialists who perform thorough assessments and offer the latest dental implant options, including ceramic implants and titanium implants. You can find our dental implant clinics in Uptown Houston, Midtown Houston, or Montrose. Please schedule an appointment to explore your dental implant options in Houston, TX 77027.
