Are you contemplating the prospect of getting dental implants? Without a doubt, you can be confident that they are the most reliable way to rebuild a complete and strong smile. Still, you may have questions about the road ahead. For example, how long does the dental implant surgery take, and what can you expect from it? This blog post provides some useful information.
How Long Does Dental Implant Surgery Take?
There are several factors that can have a bearing on the timeline for dental implant surgery:
- The number of dental implants being placed. Placing a single dental implant may take approximately 60 – 90 minutes, while multiple implants will require additional time.
- The expertise, training, and experience of your dental team. Seasoned professionals with advanced implant training can often perform the procedure more efficiently, while still ensuring optimal results and safety.
- Your oral anatomy. Your jawbone density, the location of your implant sites (such as the front or back of your mouth), and any anatomical variations, can lengthen or shorten the surgical time. More complex cases may require extra planning and attention to detail.
- Additional procedures. Bone grafting or tooth extractions are sometimes performed during the same appointment as dental implant placement. They can significantly extend your time in the dental chair.
- The technology and techniques used by your dental office. Things like advanced imaging techniques may help streamline the process and improve the accuracy of implant placement.
Depending on all of these factors, your dental implant surgery could last anywhere from a single hour to several hours. Your dental team will provide you with a personalized timeline based on your needs so you can prepare for what to expect on the day of your surgery.
What You Can Expect as a Patient
What will happen while you are in the dental chair? Here is a basic overview of the surgical process:
- Your care team will make you comfortable. Your dental professional will begin by administering local anesthesia and, in some cases, sedation, to ensure that you remain comfortable and relaxed throughout the procedure. Most patients report minimal discomfort during the surgery due to these measures.
- Incisions will be made. Once you are fully numb, your dentist or oral surgeon will make precise incisions in your gum tissue to expose the underlying jawbone at the designated implant sites.
- Your bone will be prepared. The dental team will then carefully prepare the bone to receive the implants, using specialized instruments to create space for each titanium post.
- Your implants will be placed. Each dental implant is gently inserted into the prepared bone, and the area is meticulously cleaned before the gum tissue is repositioned and sutured.
Dental implant surgery, and the recovery period that occurs afterward, can take a bit of time. Exercise patience, and hopefully you will soon have a smile that you are excited to show off!
Meet the Practice
At La Prada Family Dentistry of Garland, our highly skilled team of experts is pleased to provide start-to-finish dental implant services. We offer sedation for patient comfort, and we try to make each procedure as efficient as possible. To learn more about us or to request a tooth replacement consultation, get in touch with our office at 214-227-6577.
