If you are thinking about replacing a missing or damaged tooth, one of your first questions is probably how long the implant process takes. The honest answer is that it depends on your mouth, your health, and the type of treatment you choose. What stays the same is the order of the steps. Here is what the journey looks like at Lubbock Dental Specialists, from your first visit to your final crown.

Step 1: Your Consultation and 3D Scans

At your first visit, we take 3D scans of your mouth and design a custom treatment plan. This is the time to talk about your goals, your health history, and which type of implant fits your situation. Options include traditional implants, implant-supported dentures, zirconia implants for patients with metal allergies, zygomatic implants for some patients with upper jaw bone loss, and the 4-Hour Smile procedure. Your oral surgeon will explain your choices.

This visit is also when we go over the cost. The cost of implants varies for everyone, so we provide an estimate for your treatment and review payment and financing options.

Step 2: Preparing Your Jaw, If Needed

An implant needs enough healthy bone to hold it. If your jaw does not have enough, bone grafting may come first. Our team offers several options, including sinus lifts and ridge expansion, and we can use your own healing factors to support recovery. Grafting adds healing time before the implant can be placed, so this step is one of the biggest reasons timelines differ from patient to patient.

Step 3: Choosing Your Anesthesia

Before implant placement, we talk through your anesthesia and sedation options and help you pick what feels right for your comfort. Choices include local anesthesia, nitrous oxide, IV sedation, and general anesthesia.

Step 4: Implant Placement

The surgery is performed in our office. After the anesthesia, your surgeon makes an incision in the gum tissue and places the implant post in the jawbone. Sometimes the abutment, the connector that holds your crown, is attached during this same procedure. If not, you will return for a second procedure to uncover the post and attach it. You may be given a temporary crown to wear while the implant heals.

Step 5: Healing

After placement, the post fuses with your jawbone. This is the stage where most of the waiting happens. Healing varies from person to person, and your surgeon will tell you what to expect based on your case. Follow your post-operative instructions closely and keep your follow-up visits.

Step 6: Your Final Crown

Once the implant has fused with the bone, your restorative dentist places your final crown, which completes your treatment.

A Faster Option: The 4-Hour Smile

If you need to replace many or all of your teeth, the 4-Hour Smile procedure uses several implants to support a fixed denture, giving you a new smile in one day. Your surgeon can tell you whether you are a candidate.

What Affects Your Timeline?

• Whether a tooth needs to be removed first
• Whether you need bone grafting
• The type of implant you choose
• Whether the abutment is placed with the implant or in a second procedure
• How your body heals

Why Choose Implants?

Implants can provide stable support for replacement teeth. Because they are a fixed part of your smile, you do not remove them for meals the way you would a removable appliance, and they stimulate the jawbone, which can help keep it strong. They can replace as few or as many teeth as you need. Whether implants are right for you depends on your health and your jawbone, and your surgeon will review that with you.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the dental implant process take?

It depends on your treatment plan. Cases that need bone grafting or a second procedure for the abutment take longer. Your surgeon can give you a clearer picture at your consultation.

Will I have a tooth while my implant heals?

We may place a temporary crown to wear while the implant heals.

Is the surgery done in your office?

Yes. The implant procedure is performed in our office.

How much do implants cost?

The cost varies for each patient. At your consultation we provide an estimate and go over payment and financing options.

Start With a Consultation

Ready to see what the timeline looks like for you? Learn more about dental implants at Lubbock Dental Specialists and our bone grafting options, then call (806) 412-0000 or visit our Get Started page to schedule your consultation. Our Lubbock office is at 4425 98th St, Ste 300, Lubbock, TX 79424.