After the initial healing period for dental implants, which can take a couple weeks, you will still need to wait a few weeks or months while the implant integrates with your jawbone in a process called osseointegration.
Although this may sound like a long time, you will have a temporary dental crown in the meantime, so your appearance won’t be affected.
However, what should you expect in the months following dental implant placement? Here’s a timeline to help you understand more about the healing process and how long it may take.
The First Month
The first month will include the initial healing after your dental implant procedure and a follow-up appointment with your dentist to ensure the surgical site is healing as expected. Most people find that any discomfort and swelling after a dental implant placement subsides after a few days, with four days being the average [1].
Your dentist may still advise you to eat soft foods for the remainder of the first month or avoid biting down on the side of the mouth with the implant until the initial healing period is over.
Months Two and Three
During months two and three, your dental implant will still be fusing with your jawbone. This is a crucial healing time because osseointegration, the process of your implant fusing with your bone, is necessary for a strong and secure dental implant [2].
By this time, you should be able to eat most of your normal foods again, and you may not think much about the healing implant.
Your dentist may ask you to come in so they can take impressions of your smile for your final dental crown, which will be the permanent restoration that is placed when the entire process is complete.
Since lab-fabricated custom crowns can take several weeks to make, this process is done well before you actually need the permanent crown.
Months Three to Six
Although your implant will be mostly—if not completely—healed by the six-month mark, you will have one more minor procedure to complete before your dental crown can be placed. The abutment placement happens a few weeks before your final dental crown placement.
The abutment is a small metal component that will connect your final dental crown to your implant. This small piece will require a tiny incision in your gums to place. Once you heal from this procedure, which can take two to six weeks, your dentist will have you come in for the final crown placement [3].
Your permanent dental crown will be placed when your implant is fully healed and ready to sustain the pressure of biting and chewing with a permanent crown. After the permanent crown placement, your smile is restored.
Dental Implants Are an Investment in Your Smile
Although the entire dental implant process can take a few months, dental implants are an investment in your smile that will last a lifetime with proper care. Are you considering dental implants? Ask your dentist about this life-changing restorative procedure and what you can expect for your unique smile!
Sources:
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8538387/
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3602536/
3. https://www.fairview.org/patient-education/89711
