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It takes at least 7 months to get a basic single-tooth dental implant in Pineville from Dr. Troy Babb, and some patients require upwards of 12 months to complete the implant placement and restoration process. But why do dental implants take so long, and what happens during the process? Find out now in this guide from Pineville Family Dentistry.
First, you will need to come to Pineville Family Dentistry to get an implant consultation with Dr. Troy Babb. He will perform a comprehensive oral exam to determine if you’re a good candidate for dental implants. If you’re approved, he will begin planning your implant treatment right away.
There are some situations where you may need additional pre-implant surgeries to get an implant. If your jaw bone is weak, for example, you may need a bone graft, which will need to heal for 3 months or more before your implant is placed. Dr. Babb will discuss these procedures with you after your initial consultation, if necessary.
Next, you’ll come in to have your implant placed. Dr. Babb will numb your mouth and then create an incision in the gums and jaw, and place the titanium implant precisely based on your treatment plan. The area will be sutured shut to heal, and you’ll be sent home.
It takes about 1-2 weeks to heal from implant placement, but it will take between 3-6 months for the implant to permanently bond with your jaw bone. You will come into Pineville Family Dentistry several times so that Dr. Babb can make sure your implant is healing properly.
During your checkups at Pineville Family Dentistry, Dr. Babb will also take impressions and images of your mouth and your implant. This information will be sent to a dental lab, where your permanent implant restoration, such as a dental crown, will be built.
Once your implant restoration is built and your mouth has healed, you’ll come in 1-2 weeks before your final appointment to have an abutment placed on your implant. This “abutment” is where your implant restoration will attach to the implant, so this is an important part of the implant process.
When your mouth has been fully healed and your abutment has been placed, you will come into Pineville Family Dentistry for your last appointment. Dr. Babb will check the fit of your implant restoration one final time, and then bond it into place. This completes the procedure, so you’ll be sent home to enjoy your new smile.
Dr. Troy Babb is an expert implant dentist in Pineville, and can ensure you get the best care throughout every step of the implant process.
Though implants take longer to complete than other methods of tooth restoration, they last 30+ years, look and feel completely natural, and help protect the health of your jaw bone, making them the best option for permanent smile restoration.
If you’re interested in the benefits of dental implants or you would like to learn more about the process, just contact Pineville Family Dentistry online or give us a call at (318) 704-5757 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Babb.
