Do you need a restorative dentistry treatment to replace an entire arch of missing teeth? In many cases, you can rebuild your entire smile with dentures attached to dental implants. It’s important to note in advance, however, that this is not a treatment that can be completed in just one appointment; the process takes multiple steps spread out across a certain period of time. If you’re thinking of getting implant dentures, here’s a closer look at how long you can expect it to take.
What Steps are Involved in Getting Implant Dentures?
While the implant denture process isn’t exactly the same for every patient, it can generally be broken down into the following steps:
- Initial Consultation: Are dental implants right for you? An initial consultation will need to be held in order to answer this question.
- Bone Grafting: If there’s not enough bone in your jaw for dental implants, the issue can be corrected with a bone grafting procedure. (Note that this particular step may or may not be required in your case, depending on the state of your jawbone.)
- Dental Implant Placement: The implant posts will be surgically inserted into your jaw. About four to six posts are normally used, with the exact number depending on the patient’s needs.
- Osseointegration: As time passes, the implant posts will fuse with the surrounding bone tissue and effectively become part of your jaw.
- Denture Placement: Once your mouth has fully healed from the previous steps, a full denture can be created and placed.
So, How Long Will the Implant Denture Process Take?
It can potentially take anywhere between six months to a year to complete the process of getting implant dentures. This is largely due to how much time the mouth needs to heal between steps. In particular, osseointegration normally takes around three to six months.
On top of that, the possible need for bone grafting can have a significant impact on your treatment timeline. Once the procedure is complete, you’ll need to wait a matter of months before you can have dental implant surgery performed. However, this is a non-factor if you don’t require bone grafting in the first place.
Ultimately, in order to obtain a truly reliable estimate of how long getting implant dentures will take, you will need to call your dentist to set up your initial consultation. Once they have learned more about your unique mouth and your specific needs, they can give you a detailed explanation of what you can expect from the process.
About the Author
Dr. Jonathan H. Cohen is a graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine. He belongs to a number of dental organizations, including the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, the Academy of Osseointegration, and the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. He’s able to personally handle the entire dental implant process right here at Julington Creek Family Dentistry in St. Johns. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Cohen, visit his website or call (904) 230-2961.