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If you are considering traditional dental implants, then the procedure happens in multiple steps. Thus, the recovery time may vary from one patient to another, depending on how many teeth are replaced and a patient’s oral health. However, the average healing time for a dental implant is four to six months for complete recovery before getting the crown. There are a lot of factors that influence the healing time of dental implants. Before discussing those factors, let’s take a closer look at different parts of a dental implant and how it is placed.
Parts of a Dental Implant
For decades, teeth implants are considered to be as the most reliable solution for a missing tooth due its durability, functionality, and appearance. If you are interested in replacing your missing teeth with implants, you need to learn about the process and the parts that work together to make the implant procedure a successful one.
A dental implant consists of the following three parts
- Implants – The implant, also known as the fixture is a screw-shaped structure made of titanium. It is surgically placed into the jawbone and acts as the root of a new replacement tooth. The implants naturally fuse with the jawbone through a process called osseointegration.
- Abutment – As the implants completely lie under the gum, an extender must be placed to attach it with the new tooth. It acts as a connector that bridges the gap between the implant and the crown. It is attached once the osseointegration process is completed.
- Prosthesis – It is also called a crown. It is the part of a dental implant that looks and functions like a natural tooth. It is made of different materials like porcelain or ceramic and the material of the crown affects the overall dental implants cost Sydney. It is either be screwed or cemented on the abutment.
Each implant is designed to last long that allows you to reap the benefits for a lifetime if it is maintained well.
Here are the factors that affect the healing time after the implant procedure
Osseointegration
Dental implants are the only teeth replacement option that replaces both the root and crown of missing teeth. This is one of the significant reasons why many choose to replace their missing teeth with implants though the dental implants cost Sydney is higher than dentures and bridges. So, when the implants are placed into the jawbone, it will take time to fuse with the bone naturally. The process is called osseointegration, and it takes more than a couple of months to integrate with the bone. This process cannot be sped up as it happens naturally. Once this process is completed, you can have a new tooth and start chewing on the implants with any issues.
Special cases
If you have a decayed tooth that needs to be removed, the implant process may take a long time as you have to wait for the bone to completely before placing the implants on the extracted site.
If you do not have enough bone to support an implant, you may need to bone grafting procedure. Bone grafting is done to reconstruct the bone to help support the implant as without bones implants cannot be inserted. So, the surgical site must be healed completely before placing the implants.
Speak to your dentist as they are the right person to determine how long it will take for your implants to get healed completely.