If you want dental implants, you’re likely eager for treatment. That’s only natural – finishing the latter leads to a restored smile! So, there’s a good chance you’re also pondering a big issue: “How long does dental implant surgery take?” By addressing this concern, you can better prepare for the implants. Luckily, your Falls Church dentist can answer your question. Here’s a primer on the dental implant process, how long it takes, and how best to recover from it.
What Goes Into the Implant Process?
To know how long implant work takes, you must learn the implant process first. You’ll then grasp why your treatment involves specific amounts of time.
If you exclude the consult visit, implant surgery is the process’s first phase. It starts by numbing your mouth with a local anesthetic. Next, it’ll make a small incision in your gums to create room for the implant. The dentist will then place your implant into the newly made space. Afterward, they’ll stitch up the incision so your gums can heal. From there, the dentist will place a protective cap over the area.
Once the surgery is over, the implant process shifts to the next two phases. The first is a recovery time that lets your gums heal from the earlier incision. (As this healing ends, you’ll receive your abutment.) Later, the dentist will place the final restoration for the last phase.
How Long is the Actual Treatment?
Once you understand the implant process, learning how long treatment takes is easy. You just have to consider the time needed for each phase.
On average, the surgery phase takes 1-2 hours to place a single implant. This timespan stems from the complexity of the placement work. However, the surgery time will increase if you plan to get two or more implants. To speed things up, though, the treating dentist can use a CT scanner or similar dental tools. Such items create digital images that map out the placement sites.
The post-surgery phases involve varying timelines. For the initial recovery, you’ll only need 1-2 weeks of healing. Your gums will then be strong enough for the abutment(s). In contrast, you must wait 3-6 months after surgery for the final restoration. Only then will the implant(s) properly fuse with your jaw.
How Should You Handle Your Recovery?
Following surgery, there are steps you can take to speed up recovery. Consider those listed below:
- Get Plenty of Rest – For the first day or two after surgery, rest and keep your head elevated.
- Be Careful of the Surgical Site – As needed, ice the surgical site on and off to reduce swelling.
- Eat Soft Foods – During your recovery, only eat soft foods. They won’t irritate the treatment site or disrupt implant fusion.
As excited as you are, remember how long implant surgery takes. That knowledge will help your new smile heal and last a lifetime!
About the Practice
DentaCrafters is based in Falls Church, VA. Led by Drs. Nada and Duckett, our practice provides quality dental care to every patient. We thus offer preventive, cosmetic, and restorative services, as well as emergency oral procedures. Naturally, then, our office has quality dental implants that can restore your full smile! For more details or to book a visit, you can reach us on our website or by phone at (703)-241-5775.