Our earlier post, Dental Implants 101 covered basic information about implants. This post and the next explain the timeline for having the dental implant work done. The timeline for implants does vary depending on exactly how much work is needed for each specific patient.
These scenarios describe the timelines when Dr. Griffith needs to remove a tooth prior to installing the implant:
Scenario 1 – Dentist needs to remove a tooth first
In this scenario, Dr. Griffith removes the existing tooth and places a bone graft in the mouth. The graft helps to prevent the bone from shrinking because of the tooth’s removal and ensure enough bone is present when the area is healed and ready to receive the implant.
4 to 6 months after the tooth removal and bone graft: Dr. Griffith places the implant screw in the jaw bone and places a small cap over it so the gum heals around it. (Sometimes he simply allows gum tissue to heal over the implant screw, to be uncovered later.)
3 months after implant placement: Dr. Griffith removes the cap covering the implant, makes a mold or creates a digital scan in order to prepare the implant crown, and replaces the healing cap back on the implant until the crown is prepared. If the healing cap has not yet been placed, he makes a small incision to uncover the implant where the gum tissue has grown over it, and places the healing cap. The gums may then need to heal for about 2 weeks before the final mold can be taken.
2 weeks after the final impression is taken, the implant crown is ready for delivery. The healing cap is removed and the implant crown is attached to the implant – the dental implant is complete.
Scenario 2 – Dentist removes a tooth and immediately replaces it with an implant
In this scenario Dr. Griffith is able remove the tooth and place the implant screw where the tooth was taken out, in the same appointment. This process reduces the time and number of surgeries needed, but isn’t always possible. Once the implant screw is placed, Dr. Griffith places a small cap over it so the gum heals around it. Dr. Griffith might also place a bone graft at this time, to ensure there is enough bone around the implant.
3 months after implant placement: Dr. Griffith removes the cap covering the implant, makes a mold or creates a digital scan in order to prepare the implant crown, and replaces the healing cap back on the implant until the crown is prepared If the healing cap has not yet been placed, he makes a small incision to uncover the implant where the gum tissue has grown over it, and places the healing cap. The gums may then need to heal for about 2 weeks before the final mold can be taken.
2 weeks after the final impression is taken, the implant crown is ready for delivery. The healing cap is removed and the implant crown is attached to the implant – the dental implant is complete.
The next post will describe the timelines for dental implants where there is no tooth that need to be removed.
.png)