A dental implant is the best replacement if you have a missing tooth.
If you are a suitable candidate, dental implants can be the most reliable and long-lasting solution of all tooth replacement methods. However, the procedure is not as simple as walking into a dental clinic with a missing tooth and coming out with one.
Here’s what and how long does a dental implant procedure take:
First Step: A Dental Examination
To determine if you’re a suitable candidate for dental implants, your dentist will conduct a comprehensive exam to check your oral health.
This can include physical examination, X-rays, and possibly 3D scans.
Even if you’re working with your family dentist who is familiar with the health of your mouth, this exam is vital to confirm that the health of your gums and jawbone. Your dentist needs to make sure they can support the implant and this treatment plan is suitable for you.
Second Step: Implant Surgery 
After the exam, your dentist will schedule a date for surgery.
The procedure involves your dentist placing a titanium implant right below the gums in your jaw bone where your old toot root used to be.
How Long Does A Dental Implant Procedure Take
The surgery normally takes around 30 minutes to an hour for every implant being placed and is completely painless. Honestly most patients say it’s like having a filling.
However, the time taken to fit an implant and replace teeth can vary depending on different factors.
While placing a single implant can take 30min- 1hr, it’s obvious that several implants could take longer. That’s why it’s important to visit an experienced implant dentist. An implantologist like Dr. Norkiewicz who has performed over 5000 implants, can do the implant procedure more quickly and mor accurately than a dentist who has only done a few hundred.
Besides, the entire treatment process, from initial examination to achieving full recovery, can take two to four months. Treatment usually takes longer if the tooth that needs replacement was removed due to gum disease or an infection in the gum or root.
You might be required to wait a few months after extraction of the tooth to allow time for the infection to heal before placing the implant.
Another reason treatment may take longer is if bone needs to be built in your jaw before fitting the implants. In that case you’ll need bone grafting, and that is yet another process that’s expected to take some extra time.
The Bottom Line
The process of installing a dental implant involves multiple steps, which can take several months. However, the end product is a permanent replacement tooth that’s most definitely worth the time and effort.
Ideally, the best way to learn how long does a dental implant procedure take for you is to talk with your dentist. They will examine you and give you a more accurate answer based on your oral health and unique situation.