Dental Implants Timeline: What You Need to Know

Your dental implants timeline could be extended if you require preparatory procedures.

Dentist in Irving, TX

Dental implants treatment takes place over several months to a year and requires multiple stages. The total duration of your dental implants timelinewill depending on a variety of factors, including whether you require preparatory procedures and how quickly you heal between stages. At Kids and Grownups Dental in Irving, TX, our periodontist, Dr. John Lee, can perform virtually every aspect of implant placement surgery, including bone grafting. Along with Dr. Joshua Lee, Dr. John Lee provides lifelike and aesthetic implant-supported restorations to fully restore your smile.

Planning Your Treatment

During your initial consultation at our office, you can discuss your goals and tooth replacement options with Dr. Lee. We will also take detailed scans and x-rays of your jaw to determine if you are a candidate for dental implants. Since implants rely on surrounding bone for support, you must have a certain amount of healthy jawbone tissue before receiving implants.

In some cases, a preparatory procedure, such as a bone graft or sinus lift, can restore your candidacy for an implant-supported restoration.

Depending on your jawbone density and overall oral health, Dr. Lee may recommend treatment with dental implants or another restoration method. In some cases, a preparatory procedure, such as a bone graft or sinus lift, can restore your candidacy for an implant-supported restoration. You can also discuss the estimated cost of dental implants at this appointment.

Preparing for Treatment

Before undergoing implant surgery, Dr. Lee can treat any underlying oral health issues or perform a bone grafting procedure to restore your jawbone density. The type of preparatory procedure you need will affect how long this stage takes. If you are treating a relatively mild case of gum disease, you may only require a few weeks of healing. In contrast, the recommended healing time after a sinus lift is six to nine months

Implant Placement Surgery

Once you have healed from any necessary preparatory procedures, Dr. Lee can perform dental implant surgery. Implant placement surgery typically lasts about two to four hours, depending on how many posts you need to support your restoration. During the procedure, Dr. Lee will embed a small titanium post into your jawbone. Over the next four to six months, the post will fuse with the surrounding bone tissue during a process known as osseointegration. You will need to attend regular follow-up visits after implant surgery so Dr. Lee can monitor your healing and ensure no complications ensue.

Abutment and Impressions

When your implants have full healed, Dr. Lee will attach small connectors, known as abutments, to the posts. Then we can take impressions of the abutments to design your new custom restoration. Depending on the size of your dental appliance, it may take our laboratory a few weeks to fabricate it. During this time, we can fit you with a temporary restoration to protect your abutments.

Placing Your Final Restoration

The last step in dental implant treatment is placing your custom dental appliance. Before attaching your implant-supported restoration to the abutments, Dr. Lee will check the fit and feel and ensure you are satisfied with the results. Once your restoration is in place, you can enjoy the benefits of a fully restored smile.

Invest in Your Oral Health

The benefits of replacing missing teeth with an implant-supported restoration are substantial. While this type of appliance requires a larger time investment, implant-supported restorations offer incredible stability and protect your jawbone against future tissue deterioration. To learn more about dental implants or one of our other restorative dentistry options, contact our office online or call us at (817) 477-6597 today.

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Address: 2651 Texas Dr, Irving, TX 75062
Phone: (817) 532-5261
Email: kgdental@kidsandgrownupsdental.com

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