After doing a bit of research online, you’ve decided that you’re finally ready to replace your missing teeth, and you know exactly how you want it done: dental implants. Dental implants are able to provide the most natural-looking and longest lasting solution available today, so the question now is, how long will it actually take you to get them? This is a bit of a complicated question because no two people’s implant experience will be the same, as certain cases are more complicated than others. What factors may cause your dental implants in Ormond Beach to take longer than others? We discuss the 3 main ones today.
1. How many teeth you need replaced
Dental implants are quite versatile and can be used to replace any number of teeth, so a patient’s particular needs will have a direct influence on how long the procedure will take. As you can imagine, getting a single tooth replaced is much simpler than restoring an entire arch. The more implants you need, the more involved your placement procedure will be and the more healing time you will need afterward. Fortunately, this won’t really affect the end result.
2. If you need a bone graft
In order for a dental implant to be safely placed, a patient needs an adequate amount of healthy jawbone. This is not always the case for patients who have been missing teeth for a long time, as tooth loss directly contributes to bone degeneration. If a patient doesn’t have a strong enough jawbone to support implants, a dentist will suggest that they undergo a bone graft first.
This is a simple procedure where, using either some of the patient’s own bone or a bone grafting material, the jaw can actually be built up and strengthened in order to make it viable for implants. This will need to happen before any other part of the implant process, so it will add to the overall timeline.
3. The state of your health
Both your oral and overall health are factors your dentist in Ormond Beach will consider when giving you implants as well. If a patient has gum disease, for example, this could compromise an implant if placed, so a dentist will work to fix this problem before proceeding. Also, if a patient has an underlying medical condition, such as diabetes or a bleeding disorder, this will need to be thoroughly controlled before any implants can be placed. All in all, your dentist’s goal is to make sure you have the best possible chance of success when it comes to your implants, even if that involves taking a little extra time.
While these complicating factors might make it take longer to get your complete smile back, they have to be considered. When they are taken into account, the success of your implants is almost guaranteed, and it will also save you from having to get them fixed in the future. As a patient, the best thing you can do is follow your dentist’s advice during the process, and with that, it’s just a matter of time before you see your beautiful smile in the mirror again.
About the Author
Dr. Andrew Nawrocki is a general, cosmetic, and implant dentist based in Ormond Beach, FL. As a board-certified prosthodontist and member of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, he is able to handle even the most complicated dental implant cases at his practice, ensuring that his patients are always able to reclaim their whole smiles. To learn more about dental implants and what your particular process might entail, he can be contacted through his website.