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How Long Does a Dental Implant Procedure Take?

We believe that much of the anxiety patients have about their dental implant procedures has to do with the unknowns. If you’ve never had dental implants before, you might not know what to expect—and when you don’t know what to expect, your mind starts racing to try to anticipate every possible scenario. In this blog post, we’ll talk about what you can expect from a dental implant procedure and answer some common questions you might have, including, “How long does a dental implant procedure take?”

What is involved in a dental implant procedure?

The answer to this question depends on what you consider a “dental implant procedure.” If you mean the entire process of getting dental implants and the restorations that attach to them, it can be as little as one day or as long as several months, depending on the type of implants you’re getting. For the purposes of this blog post, though, we’ll assume you mean only the procedure in which the dental implants are surgically implanted into the jaw. 

The procedure begins by numbing the area where we’ll be working. A small incision is made, and we prepare a space in the jaw to insert the implant fixture. For conventional dental implants, the implant is then placed and the gum tissue is sutured to promote healing. 

How long does a dental implant procedure take?

The length of your dental implant procedure depends, again, on the type of dental implants being placed and the number of implants needed. It usually takes about 30 to 60 minutes per implant fixture.

Is a dental implant procedure painful?

No, a dental implant procedure is not painful. We use local anesthesia to numb your gum tissue and jaw before your surgery begins. This means that you’ll feel some pressure and movement in your mouth, but you won’t experience any pain. Only after the anesthesia wears off in the hours after your surgery will you begin to experience some discomfort, but this is typically mild.

Can I sleep through my dental implant procedure?

As a leading provider of dental implants in Monmouth County, we’re pleased to be able to offer our patients three levels of sedation, including IV sedation, which allows you to feel as if you are sleeping through your procedure. You are technically conscious with IV sedation, which is what makes it safer than general anesthesia, but it has an amnesiac effect that makes it so you’ll have little to no recollection of your procedure once it’s over.

What are the next steps after the dental implant placement procedure?

After your dental implant procedure, we will wait for your dental implants and bone to fuse together in a process known as osseointegration. Once this occurs, the abutment pieces will be attached to your dental implants, then your permanent restoration—a crown, bridge, or denture—will be secured to the abutments. 

Learn More About Dental Implants in Monmouth County

Champagne Smiles is New Jersey’s Premier Dental Implant Team All Under One Roof. Contact us today at 732-972-0918 to schedule an appointment for a consultation with Dr. Champagne.