Dental implants, an excellent way to replace a missing tooth.

But why does the implant process take a number of months to complete?

Dental implants, as is well known, are an excellent option for replacing a tooth when one has been lost. One of the perceived downsides though, is the time that they take before they are fully functional.

In this day and age, where we expect things to happen almost instantaneously, the idea that a dental implant takes around three months before it can be put to full use can seem excessive on the surface. However, as any implant dentist will advise you, this is a key factor in delivering the benefits that will be gained once the period of time has passed. So what actually happens during this phase of the process?

Osseointegration – what is it?

Whilst the procedure to place the implant can take an hour or so to complete, the waiting time which follows its placement can be around three months and sometimes a little longer.

As implant dentists with considerable experience, at the Darren Bywater Implant Centre in Derby, we know that this period cannot be rushed and we will not attach the crown to the implant until we are fully satisfied that the process has been fully completed.

Because the period involves the bone growth around the implant, it simply can’t be hurried. All patients are different and as such, each case will vary in the time that it takes. By ensuring that the process is allowed to complete correctly, we are ensuring that you will get the best from your dental implant over the years to come.

Benefits

The benefits of dental implants are well known in that they not only look and feel like a natural tooth but offer a level of strength that no other tooth substitute can.

This will only apply though if the foundation is strong and consequently why the osseointegration period is so essential. If a dentist attached a crown before the underlying titanium implant was fully stable, there would be a significant risk if the implant was used prematurely.

Over time, the implant could gradually weaken and become loose and might result in the loss of the implant altogether.

This is also the reason that bone grafts may need to be done in some cases. Trying to place an implant where there is too little bone structure would also likely result in failure.

So whilst dental implants are recognised as the best way to replace a missing tooth, some patience is necessary to make sure that the solution delivers long-term results.

If you would like to know more about the specifics of the implant process, please call our dedicated implant coordinator on 01332 550933.

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