The dental implant process typically happens in multiple steps. Which means that more than one healing stage may be needed. Depending on how many teeth are being replaced, the patient’s health, and other factors healing times will vary between patients.
Here’s what will happen in between the procedure and recovery during each stage. Once these steps are successfully finished, you will be finished with your dental implant treatment!
If bone grafting is required before the implant can be placed, a waiting period of approximately four to six months will be required before the implant portion of your treatment process can be started. Grafting is usually needed in cases where the patient is lacking healthy bone in the area the implant will be placed.
If an extraction is required ahead of the implant procedure, there will also be a healing period for that phase. However, with new advances in dentistry, dentists can now often place the implants at the same time as the extractions, so that there is no double healing time. This can take around a week to heal, depending on the patient’s health.
After four to six months have passed, and the bone has integrated with the implant metal, the second part of the dental implant procedure will take place.
At this time, your dentist can add an abutment to your dental implant, to which either an artificial tooth (a dental cap) or denture will be attached.
For more information about what to expect out of your dental implant treatment process, please contact our Langley dentists today!