A Guide to Dental Implant Healing Stages
Losing a tooth can be distressing, affecting your appearance and ability to chew and speak comfortably. Dental implants are a remarkable solution to restore your smile’s esthetics and functionality.
However, the process involves several dental implant healing stages. Fortunately, Dr. Graham T. Egger and his team will help you through every step. But, we’d first like to explain these stages to help you gain an understanding before you arrive for your consultation.
Gum and bone grafts
In some cases, you may require gum grafts or bone grafts to ensure the success of your dental implant before you can receive the dental implants if you don’t currently have enough tissue to support the implants.
Gum grafts
Our dentist may recommend a gum graft if you have insufficient gum tissue to cover the implant properly. This procedure involves taking tissue from another part of your mouth or using donor tissue to augment the gum around the implant site.
The healing process for gum grafts typically takes a few weeks, during which you should follow post-operative care instructions closely to facilitate a smooth recovery.
Bone grafts
When the jawbone lacks sufficient density or volume to support the implant, our dentist may recommend a bone graft first.
Our dentist adds bone material to the jawbone throughout the procedure to enhance its strength and density.
The healing time for a bone graft can vary, but it often takes several months for the new bone to fuse with the existing bone and create a sturdy foundation for the implant.
Surgical placement (osseointegration)
Depending on your situation, this may be the first phase in the dental implant healing stages — placement of the dental implants.
Our dentist will meticulously insert the implant into the jawbone during the surgery, laying the foundation for your journey toward a restored smile effectively.
Initial healing
After the surgical procedure, the implant requires time to heal and integrate with the jawbone. This critical period, known as osseointegration, usually spans several months.
Proper osseointegration ensures the implant becomes a stable and enduring support for your new tooth.
Secondary healing
Once osseointegration is complete, the next phase in the dental implant is secondary healing. This stage ensures that the gum tissue around the implant heals properly.
Adequate healing is crucial for establishing a natural-looking and robust connection between the implant and the prosthetic tooth.
Prosthetic placement
After the implant fully integrates with the jawbone and the gum tissue heals, the final stage in the dental implant healing process involves attaching the prosthetic tooth or teeth.
Your new smile is complete at this point, improving its functionality and aesthetics. The prosthetic tooth is custom-designed to match the shape and color of your natural teeth, ensuring a seamless, beautiful smile.
Understanding the dental implant healing process is helpful when considering this transformative dental procedure. While the process may seem intricate, you’ll feel it’s worth it when you see the results.
And Dr. Graham T. Egger and his team are along for every phase of this process, guiding you and easing any stress along the way.
Whether you’ve lost a single tooth or several, dental implants offer a reliable and lasting solution that can significantly enhance your quality of life.
The first true step in the process is contacting us, though! So, give us a call or send us a message today!
Or:
- Call us at: 817-656-9366
- Email us at: appointments@grahameggerdds.com
Our office is in Colleyville, TX, but we warmly welcome patients from the surrounding areas of Bedford, Hurst, Southlake, Euless, North Richland Hills, Keller, Grapevine, Watauga, Richland Hills, and Haltom City.