Treatment time can vary in length depending on the needs of the individual patient, but every dental implant surgery will be done in stages and can take several months. To start, your dentist will do a complete dental exam to analyze x-rays, medical history, and overall oral health so they are able to create an effective plan before moving onto the surgery.
During the surgical appointments, an anesthetic will be administered to make the procedure as comfortable as possible. Once your oral surgeon is ready to place the implant, they will open the area to expose the jawbone where they will drill into to insert the base of the implant. After this stage, there will then be a waiting period so the base is able to heal, become secure, and fuse to the jawbone.
To attach the connector, or abutment, your surgeon will reopen the gum to connect it to the base and then close the tissue around it. The gums need roughly two weeks on average to heal before the next step can be done. Once the gums have healed and the jawbone is strong enough, the crown of the implant will be attached.
As previously stated, this treatment can take longer or shorter depending on each individual situation. Some factors, including the need for bone grafting, tooth removal, or more healing time, can prolong the treatment. After the procedure, it is common to experience swelling, bruising, and pain in your gums and face but your surgeon can offer methods to decrease these side effects.