Dental implants are considered the most excellent form of tooth replacement available because they look and function just like real teeth and bring patients significant benefits for their oral, psychological, and overall health. If you’re interested in restoring your smile after tooth loss, you’re probably wondering what you can expect during dental implant surgery and how long the whole process takes. Here’s a brief guide to dental implant surgery, including what it involves and how long it can take.
What Happens Before the Surgery?
The process of getting dental implants begins with a consultation with a dentist. This includes an oral examination to determine if the mouth is healthy enough to receive implants. If the patient has any gum disease, it will need to be resolved before implants can be placed. If the patient does not have sufficient bone mass in their jaw to support dental implants, they may be able to receive bone grafts to reinforce their jaw until it can support them. Treating gum disease and/or receiving and recovering from bone grafts can take as little as three months or may require nine months or a year.
How Long Does Dental Implant Surgery Take?
How much time it takes to surgically place dental implants largely depends on how many implants are being placed. The placement of a single implant can take one or two hours. However, if the patient is having the implant placed during the same appointment as a tooth extraction, the surgery will take longer as the tooth will have to be completely removed before the posts can be placed properly. This can take anywhere from an hour to several hours, and removing more teeth and/or placing more implants will make the process take longer.
While dental implants represent a considerable investment in time, effort, and resources, they boast incredible results, significant improvements to the patient’s quality of life, and a whopping 95% success rate. Consulting with your oral surgeon can determine if dental implants are the proper course of treatment for you.
About the Practice
Beck Dental Care of Columbia is trusted by the community of Columbia, TN to deliver exceptional dental health services with remarkable results. Led by Drs. Matthew Hart, Kyle Williams, and Phillip Matthews, the staff treats each patient with compassion and courtesy while maintaining a warm and welcoming environment. Areas of expertise include preventive, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry in addition to dental implant services. For more information on the process of getting dental implants, contact the office online or dial (931) 388-8452.