We are often asked ‘How long does it take to complete dental implant treatment?’ and the answer is that you should expect it to take around four to six months from the time of the initial consultation to the finished smile.
However, depending on the complexity of the surgery it can take longer, and in some cases may take up to a year.
Before any work is carried out you are likely to need a scan to check the health of your bone.
At this stage we will know if it is going to be a straight forward implant or if it is more complicated. If the scan shows that you do not have enough bone for an implant you may need bone grafting, which will mean the process will take longer as extra time will be needed for the bone to be ready for the implant.
During your first surgery bone is exposed in the jaw, a hole drilled and the implant inserted into the bone.
The gum is then stitched over and the implant left to heal, allowing the bone to grow around the implant and make it secure.
Normally, four to five months later there will be further appointments (usually two), which will end with the fitting of the replacement tooth or teeth onto the implant.