Once one of our patients at Future of Dentistry has decided to move forward with a dental implant, they usually start asking questions. One of the first is about the healing time involved.
Our short answer is that we don’t know for certain, because every case is unique. But we can make some general forecasts. The average healing time, start-to-finish, is in the area of four to six months.
That said, placing a dental implant in your jaw is really a small surgical procedure. The recovery time for that is fairly short. Many patients are able to resume their ordinary activities within a day or so, and manage any associated pain with over-the-counter medications.
But there are sutures at the implant site, and they’ll need to stay in for a couple of weeks. There is also waiting time involved for osseointegration, which is the term for the implant fusing with the jawbone. That usually takes a couple of months, and could be a little longer.
Some patients may also need bone grafting in order to build up enough healthy bone to support the implant. This too can extend the timeframe.
But once it’s over and you’ve fully healed, you’re left with a restored smile and a replacement tooth that looks and functions like the real thing. And that is most definitely worth it!
At Future of Dentistry we offer dental implants and other dental surgery, along with many other services. Call to schedule an appointment with us today!