Anywhere from a few weeks to a few months after the implant root is placed, the abutment can be attached. It takes a while for osseointegration (where the implant root fuses with the bone) to take place and become solidified. Once the implant is solidly bonded, the abutment (the piece that the crown will connect to) can be attached to the implant root. This requires another minor surgery to open the gums in order to access the root. The gum tissue is then replaced around the abutment and allowed to heal.