Dental implants don’t address tooth loss in the same manner as bridges or dentures. In fact, they offer greater stability and can last much longer. But how do we place dental implants, and what should our Woodland Hills, CA, patients expect from the process? In today’s blog, we’re talking about how long the placement process takes!
Single Tooth Replacement
If you have minor tooth loss, then we will likely place individual implants. To begin, we use advanced digital technology to plan the placement and guide the process, ensuring your new teeth will be placed in a way to optimize the ability to absorb bite forces and offer long lasting tooth replacement. Now, we will need to wait for the area to heal. The process of osseointegration, in which the dental implants bond with the jawbone like natural tooth roots, takes about three to four months to complete. We next attach a custom-made dental restoration, typically a dental crown, to address the visible portion of your smile. An abutment will hold the crown firmly in place, completing your new tooth. The entire process can take between three and six months to complete.
Implant Dentures and Bridges
What if you’ve lost several teeth? Instead of placing dozens of individual dental implants, we may place between one and three to support a dental bridge, or between six and eight per arch to secure a denture. For some cases, we may be able to support an entire denture with just four dental implants per arch. After we place them and the area heals, we will create a prosthetic based on the detailed digital impressions and measurements we’ve taken of your smile. We then place the prosthetic, providing a fixed option that never slips and doesn’t need to be removed for cleaning. While removable or crown-supported prosthetics typically last around ten years, an implant-supported option can last decades.
Same Day Tooth Replacement
For qualifying patients, we may be able to complete the process in a single visit. We will insert the new tooth roots and then attach a prosthetic in the same visit, so you leave with a complete smile. If your final denture or bridge isn’t ready, then you will return so we can change out your temporary one with the final model. This means you never leave the office with an unsightly gap, and enjoy a full and stunning smile.
Do You Have Missing Teeth?
Our team wants to protect your smile from the dangers of untreated tooth loss. For more information on implant dentistry, then please schedule a consultation by calling Woodland Hills Dental Arts in Woodland Hills, CA today at 818-347-5124. We also proudly welcome patients from Thousand Oaks, Westlake, and all surrounding communities.