Dental Implants Procedure Timeline
Dental implants are considered by many dentists to be the most effective replacement option for a lost adult tooth. Dental implants have the longest-lasting results and more accurately mimic both the form and function of an adult tooth. Patients often have a lot of questions about getting dental implants, with the first question being “What’s the process of getting an implant like”? Dental implant treatments require multiple appointments and the entire timeline can take months to a year depending on what your treatment plan looks like. In this article, we will cover the dental implant timeline. Here at Varinos Dental Associates, our offices handle every single step of the dental implant process in-house and do not require our patients to make appointments at multiple locations. If you live in the Peabody, Newburyport, or Winthrop Massachusetts area and are interested in dental implants, please contact one of our offices.
What Are The Steps To Getting A Dental Implant?
Like many medical treatment plans, everything starts with setting up an initial consultation appointment. During that appointment, your dental team will take measurements including X-rays to start planning your dental implant process. This is where the first major divergence can happen for different patients. In some cases, if the jawbone in an implant area is not strong enough, you may need to either not get the dental implant or use tissue grafting treatments to strengthen the jawbone so that it can support the eventual implant. This is one of the ways the implant process can take longer.
What Is Dental Bone Grafting?
A bone graft like other grafting treatments involves surgically placing tissue material in the treatment area. Once the tissue graft is placed, it will heal with and integrate with the existing tissue. Over the period of the healing process, this will make the tissue in this area stronger and able to support a dental implant.
How Many Appointments Does It Take To Get A Dental Implant?
Once a dentist has determined that you can have a dental implant placed, there are a few separate appointments. The first appointment is a surgical treatment where the dental implant is placed under the gums. The implant acts as a replacement for the root of the lost tooth. Over the course of a few months, the implant will fuse to the bone tissue. After this, you will have a second appointment to attach a fake dental crown to the dental implant. This crown is designed to match your smile both aesthetically and functionally. Altogether this treatment plan can take three to six months from the initial consultation to the implant placement, however, if bone grafting or other treatments are necessary, the process can be longer.
Dental Implant Specialists in Peabody & Newburyport MA
Here at Varinos Dental Associates, our team specializes in restorative dental care. Our offices and teams are equipped to handle the entire dental implant process from start to finish, so our patients can work with the same team and schedule all their appointments in the same location. If you are interested in learning more about dental implants or scheduling a consultation at our offices, please contact us.
