How Long Do Dental Implants Take?

How Long Do Dental Implants Take?

Getting dental implants is a big decision. Whether you’ve needed them for a while, or have a tooth removal coming up where you’d like to have your teeth replaced as soon as possible; deciding whether dental implants are for you can be a lengthy process in itself.

To make your decision a fully informed one, we’ve put together this guide on how long it takes to get dental implants. From the very first consultation with your dentist, to the aftercare stage and further down the line… Read on to find out how long the entire dental implant process takes.

Consultation

Once you have decided dental implants are the right step forward for your smile, it’s time to book your initial consultation appointment. During this appointment, your dentist will take a look at your overall oral health. This means they can determine whether you have any underlying dental health issues that may need addressing before the dental implant procedure goes ahead.

If you do need any pre-procedure work doing, this can delay the process slightly. Sometimes your dentist will be able to do more simple treatments such as fillings there and then, but others, you may need to book in for.

The consultation appointment should last no longer than an hour. During this appointment, you have your chance to ask any questions that spring to mind regarding having dental implants fitted. Your dentist will also be quizzing you a little, to try to figure out whether dental implants really are the best option.

Be sure to mention if you have any underlying health problems at this appointment. Some people with conditions such as diabetes may not be able to have dental implants due to the prolonged recovery times and the increased risk of infection associated with these.

Procedure

How long the dental implant procedure takes inevitably depends on how many teeth you are having work done on. For each tooth, the procedure takes around one or two hours. For a single tooth dental implant, prices begin at £2200.

Many dentists will offer all on 4 or all on 6 options as a package dental implant option. These options are designed to provide you with dental implants that cover the most visible teeth. For example, all on 6 for the top row, all on 4 for the bottom row – it all depends on how many teeth you are looking to have ‘replaced’ or ‘restored’. The all on 4 or 6 option would take around 4 hours. This all depends on complexity and the condition your gums and surrounding teeth are in to begin with. The price for all-on-4 dental implants costs from £8000.

Whether you go for the all in 4 or all in 6, these procedures are each done in just one day. This means you’ll leave the surgery feeling absolutely transformed!

Afterwards

Once you’ve had the procedure, the waiting begins. It takes a minimum of 12 weeks for your implants to fully heal – considering you follow all the correct aftercare instructions. If your healing process is slowed for any reason, or your aftercare regimen is deviated from, you may have to wait up to 5 months before your implants are sufficiently healed. Only once your implants have properly healed, can the crown (the tooth part of the implant process) be fitted.

Within the first 72 hours after the procedure, any swelling and bruising around the jaw should dissipate. You can take over-the-counter pain relief until the pain fades. You may be in some discomfort for a couple of weeks after your implants are fitted, as this is when your body is adjusting to these new fixtures and deciding whether to accept or reject them.

For one week, try to stick to soft foods. Avoid alcohol and smoking for at least two weeks – it is advised you do not smoke at all during the recovery process. This can hinder healing times and prolong the time it takes for you to get your implants finished.

After your implants have fully healed and been accepted by your body, you will then go for your final follow-up appointment at the dental surgery. This is where your dentist will be able to fix your dental crowns onto the implants securely.

All in all, the entire dental implant process takes at least 4 – 5 months, depending on your dentist’s availability with regard to appointments and procedure slots.

How Long Do Dental Implants Last?

Dental implants offer one of the longest-lasting dental procedures out there. They can last 20 – 30 years, which is a considerable length of time when compared to other forms of dental procedures and treatments. With the right aftercare, they’ll stick with you for a few decades.

If the crown (the tooth part of the implant) does become damaged while the base remains intact, you could have the crown replaced much faster than the initial treatment was.

Dental Implants by Ringway Dental

Dental implants can offer those with missing teeth an impressive transformation, in both looks and confidence. At Ringway Dental, we love helping transform our clients’ lives by doing what we do best – cosmetic dentistry. Specialising in the field of cosmetics, our fully trained dentists are renowned for their welcoming smiles and remarkable skills.

All situated within our state-of-the-art private surgery in the heart of Cheadle near Manchester, our patients enjoy 5 star treatment throughout every appointment.

If you’d like to find out more about getting dental implants with us, book your consultation appointment today. You can call the surgery directly on 0161 437 2029, or get in touch via the online contact form on our website.

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