Dental implants are certainly great, but you can’t get them at a moment’s notice. The posts’ placement process involves multiple steps that make treatment a lengthy effort. All that said, you may wonder: just how long does dental implant surgery take? You must schedule your care properly, so your local Corinth dentist is here to address this question. Just keep reading to learn what’s involved in implant surgery, how long these steps take, and how to speed up your treatment recovery.
What’s Involved in Implant Surgery?
If you want to grasp its timeline, you should learn what implant surgery involves first. Doing so will help you understand why the treatment takes the time it does.
Every dental implant surgery includes several key steps. First of all, it starts by numbing your mouth with an anesthetic; this move ensures the placement doesn’t hurt. Treatment will then make a small incision in your gums, creating room for the final implant post. Thirdly, the dentist will place your implant and suture the previously made incision; they’ll conclude by placing a protective cap over the post.
How Long Does Implant Surgery Take?
Given the steps above, dental implant surgery can’t be done instantly. A dentist must take a certain amount of time to perform it well.
An implant surgery often takes 1-2 hours to place one implant post. If you need two or more posts, the overall treatment will take even longer than that. Still, advanced technology like CT scanners can help things along; such tools can map an implant’s placement site beforehand.
Of course, implant surgery is just one phase within a larger treatment. A patient typically needs several weeks for their mouth to recover for the next part. Furthermore, the actual implants require 3-6 months to completely fuse with your jaw.
How Can You Speed Up Recovery?
While you can’t speed up implant surgery itself, you can take steps to recover more quickly from it. Doing so just requires that you do the following:
- Don’t Strain Yourself – Rather than strain your body, remember to rest and keep your head elevated for a day after surgery. Harsh physical activity could delay or undo your healing.
- Be Careful with Your Implant(s) – You mustn’t touch or chew with your implant posts right after they’re placed. Similarly, you may need to apply ice packs near the treatment site(s) to reduce swelling.
- Stick to Soft Foods – As you recover, only eat soft foods. You’ll then prevent irritation to the implant sites.
To learn more about how long implant surgery takes, talk to your dental provider. They’ll share more details that take your situation into account.
About the Practice
Loretto Family Dentistry is based in Corinth, TX. Led by Drs. Mackie, Barkley, and Ghaly, our practice always strives to help your smile flourish. We thus offer preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dental services, with each one tailored to your grin’s specific needs. Our team also provides sleep apnea treatment and dental emergency care as necessary. For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (940)-498-2290.