December 21, 2016

One of the more pressing questions that many patients who are considering dental implants have is how long the process will take. There are many factors that contribute to the timeline for dental implants. One important thing to consider is dental implants versus All-on-4® treatment. Not every patient may qualify for dental implants or All-on-4®, but here is a general timeline for either option.

Dental Implants

Dental implants are artificial teeth attached to a titanium post that is surgically placed into the jawbone. The timeline for treatment generally goes as follows:

  • Evaluation – Your doctor determines the best course of treatment.
  • Extraction – The tooth or teeth that need removing are taken out.
  • Four-Month Wait – Depending on the severity of the extraction, the gums may need to heal.
  • Bone Graft – In cases where the gums have deteriorated significantly, bone graft surgery is necessary.
  • Six-Month Wait – Bone graft patients require time to heal before placement of the implants.
  • Place Initial Implants – Your doctor places the first implants.
  • Six-Month Wait – If more implants are required, further healing or assessment may be necessary.
  • Additional Dental Implants – If you require multiple implants, these are then placed.
  • Full Teeth in One to Two Years – The process continues until you have a full set of teeth again.

All-on-4®

All-on-4® is another type of dental implant solution for people who may require multiple implants. Rather than implanting each individual tooth, All-on-4® replaces more teeth at once by resting a set of high-quality permanent dentures onto four titanium posts embedded in the jawbone. The timeline for this treatment usually goes as follows:

  • Evaluation – Your doctor reviews and prepares for treatment with you.
  • Extraction, Four to Five Implants, Teeth Placement – These procedures are all performed on the same day.
  • Six-Month Wait – The mouth is allowed to heal and treatment reassessed.
  • Placement of Final Fixed Permanent Teeth – Your permanent teeth are placed and you get back to normal life.

While dental implants are an ideal solution for some, All-on-4® may be ideal for others. To find out which treatment option might be best for you, schedule a consultation with Belle Meade Fmaily Dentistry through our office today.

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