How Long Does It Take to Get Dental Implants?

Dental implants are often considered the best option – both aesthetically and functionally — for replacing missing teeth. And while a bridge is much quicker to create, single or multiple teeth implants last much longer and promise a more natural-looking smile. The actual placement of a dental implant is a fairly straightforward and simple procedure that involves minor discomfort and little downtime.

The overall length of time for the entire process will depend on the location of the missing tooth (or teeth), whether extraction is needed, and the health of the jawbone. However, in many cases dentists can place a temporary restoration on the implant the very same day, allowing patients to return to their daily routine without feeling self-conscious.

Since so many factors affect the dental implant process, it’s impossible to predict an exact length of time for each unique patient. Generally speaking, the entire treatment can take anywhere from 3 to 8 months.

Length of time for the dental implant process

When employing the traditional technique for dental implants, the time frame for the whole process is roughly 6 months in the upper jaw and 5 months in the lower jaw. This estimate includes the initial appointment for the surgery up through the final placement of a permanent crown.

The implant procedure includes the following steps:

Local anesthesia is administered at the site of the procedure
An incision or flap is made in the gums for the implant placement
Space is created within the jawbone for one or multiple titanium alloy implants
The implant is placed in the gum and may be fitted immediately with a temporary crown or left to be loaded (fitted with crowns) after 3-6 months when the implant has fused with the bone

Three to six months after implant placement, the second phase of the treatment begins. At this time, a small metal post, called an abutment will be attached to the implant(s).

If you are wearing a temporary crown(s) while the osseointegration (the bonding of the jawbone to the implant) takes place, your dentist will create permanent restorations based on exact impressions of your teeth and gums. This may take several appointments to ensure the shape and fit are perfect. This is part of the last phase, which typically occurs two to five weeks later.

Keep in mind that if initial CT scans and X-rays indicate that patients do not have sufficient jaw bone for the implants and dental bone grafting is necessary, an additional 2-8 months are needed to perform and heal from grafting or bone distraction procedures.