For most patients at St. Clair Tooth Co., it will take around 6-7 months to get a single-tooth dental implant, but the treatment can take up to 9-12 months or longer, in some cases. Wondering what happens during this time, and why the dental implant process takes so long? In this blog, we’ll take a look at the dental implant process timeline and explain everything you need to know, from consultation to osseointegration and final placement.
The first step is a comprehensive oral exam from Dr. Carly Cassleman. Dr. Cassleman will determine if an implant is the right choice for you, and help you learn more about your options for restorative dentistry. If you’re approved, Dr. Cassleman will begin planning your treatment right away.
You may need some additional surgeries like bone grafting, alveoloplasty (ridge smoothing) or tooth extractions before your implant surgery. These procedures will likely add several months to your overall dental implant timeline. If you require any of these treatments, Dr. Cassleman will discuss them in detail with you during your initial consultation.
Next, your implant is placed into your mouth. Dr. Cassleman will create an opening in your gums and jaw bone, then the implant will be fitted into the area, which will be cleaned and sutured shut for proper healing. This process may be repeated if you are receiving multiple implants. The timeline of your implant procedure may also lengthen with the number of implants you require.
You'll need to follow Dr. Cassleman’s instructions to heal and recover after dental implant surgery. This initial healing process will take 1-2 weeks. However, it will take 3-6 months for your implant to permanently bond with your jaw tissue. This process is known as “osseointegration,” and your implant restoration cannot be placed until the implant has fully integrated with your jaw bone.
You will come in for several appointments while your mouth heals after your implant surgery. At this time, Dr. Cassleman will check on your healing & recovery progress, and will also take images and impressions of your mouth.
This information will be sent to our partner dental lab, where the implant restoration, such as a dental crown, will be built. This restoration will look, feel, and function exactly like a natural tooth when installed on the implant.
A few weeks before you come in for your last appointment, you will need to have an “abutment” attached to the now-healed implant. This abutment is what connects your implant restoration to the implant, and holds it in place.
Once your abutment has been placed and your final implant restoration has been built, you will come to St. Clair Tooth Co. for one last appointment. Dr. Cassleman will check the crown to make sure it fits your implant, and then she will bond it in place permanently, completing your procedure. The entire implant process timeline usually takes between 9 and 12 months, but that can vary from patient to patient.
Dr. Carly Cassleman is an experienced implant dentist in St. Clair Shores and Grosse Pointe, and if you’re interested in the benefits of permanent smile restoration with dental implants, our team is here to help. Contact St. Clair Tooth Co. online or give us a call at (586) 404-4911 to schedule your initial consultation, and find out if dental implants are right for you.
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