Dental implants: steps, timeline, recovery and risks

What is a dental implant?

A dental implant is a small post that replaces the root of a missing tooth. A surgeon places it in the jawbone. Once it heals, a new tooth is attached to it. Cleveland Clinic says a dental implant has three main parts:

• The post. A threaded post that acts like an artificial tooth root. Most are titanium, and some are ceramic.
• The abutment. A small connector that screws into the post and rises slightly above the gum.
• The restoration. The new tooth you can see. It can be a crown, a bridge or an implant-supported denture.

Mayo Clinic says implants can help when dentures or bridgework fit poorly, or when there are not enough natural tooth roots to support them. The ADA’s MouthHealthy site describes the implant as a sturdy anchor for replacement teeth. The glossary has a short entry on dental implants.

Replacing a lost tooth matters. Cleveland Clinic says it can reduce the risk of bone loss, shifting teeth and further tooth loss. The guide to replacing a missing tooth compares the options side by side.

Who is a candidate for a dental implant?

You may be a candidate if you have enough healthy bone and healthy gums, and no condition that blocks healing. Mayo Clinic lists these points. You may be a candidate if you:

• Have one or more missing teeth.
• Have a jawbone that has reached full growth.
• Have enough bone to hold the implant, or can have a bone graft.
• Have healthy tissues in your mouth.
• Do not have health conditions that affect bone healing.
• Do not smoke tobacco.
• Are willing to commit several months to the process.

Cleveland Clinic lists conditions that make implants a poor idea or call for extra care. They include active or untreated gum disease, extensive tooth decay, severe bone loss in the jaw, unmanaged diabetes, some bone disorders and autoimmune diseases, and poor oral hygiene. It also says smoking or vaping can disrupt healing.

The ADA adds that chronic illnesses, such as diabetes or leukemia, may interfere with healing after surgery. It says your health is more of a factor than your age. Only a dentist can tell you whether you qualify. The exam, medical history and imaging come first.

What are the steps, and how long does each take?

The process has stages with healing time between them. Mayo Clinic lists the steps as removing a damaged tooth, preparing the jawbone (grafting) when needed, placing the implant, allowing for bone growth and healing, placing the abutment, and placing the artificial tooth. The table shows the usual order. Times come from Cleveland Clinic unless noted. Yours may differ.

Mayo Clinic notes that certain steps can sometimes be combined, depending on your situation. The ADA says some people can have the implant and replacement teeth placed in one visit, while others must wait for the implant to fuse with the bone.

If the implant is near the front of the mouth, Cleveland Clinic says the dentist makes a temporary tooth so you do not have a gap while you heal. A temporary tooth may not be needed in the back of the mouth.

Town Center Dental’s technology page says the office has a cone beam CT scan, 3D imaging, and an in-house 3D printer used for surgical guides. Ask which of these tools apply to your plan.

Is getting a dental implant painful?

The area is numbed, so you should not feel pain during the work. Cleveland Clinic says you won’t feel pain during the procedure, and that slight discomfort and swelling afterward are normal. You should feel like yourself within a week or so.

Mayo Clinic lists swelling of the gums and face, bruising of the skin and gums, pain at the implant site and minor bleeding as common after surgery. You may need pain medicine or antibiotics. You may need soft foods while the site heals. If swelling, soreness or any other problem gets worse in the days after surgery, contact your dentist.

Anesthesia options differ. Mayo Clinic says they may include numbing and sedation. Town Center Dental describes its own comfort options on its sedation dentistry page. Ask your dentist what is planned for you.

How long do dental implants last?

Cleveland Clinic says implants usually last longer than alternatives such as dentures that rest on the gums. It also says that with good brushing, flossing and regular dental visits, an implant can often last a very long time. The same page says the part on top may need replacing, because most crowns and bridges last around 15 years, and most dentures last at least seven years.

Mayo Clinic says most dental implants are successful. It adds that sometimes the bone does not fuse enough with the post, and that smoking may play a part in failure. If that happens, the implant is removed and the bone is cleaned up. You can then try again in about three months.

These are general statements, not a promise about your tooth. Your dentist will talk with you about what to expect.

What are the risks of dental implants?

Implants carry the risks of any surgery. Mayo Clinic says these risks are small and are usually minor and easily treated:

• Infection at the implant site.
• Injury to nearby structures, such as other teeth or blood vessels.
• Nerve damage that causes pain, numbness or tingling in the teeth, gums, lips or chin.
• Sinus problems, if an upper-jaw implant pokes into a sinus.

The FDA says some complications cause implant failure, usually defined as looseness or loss. Causes include local infection in the bone and gums, and delayed healing, which may be more likely in people who smoke. The FDA also points to untreated gum disease. Later problems can include peri-implantitis, inflammation of the tissue around an implant.

Call your dentist if you notice a loose or wobbly implant, bleeding or swollen gums, pus, fever, or swollen lymph nodes in your neck. Cleveland Clinic lists these signs.

Do I need a bone graft first?

You may. If the jawbone is too thin or soft, the implant may not hold. Mayo Clinic says the powerful chewing action puts great pressure on bone, so the bone must be able to support the implant. A bone graft can create a more solid base.

Cleveland Clinic says dental bone grafts are commonly placed before implant surgery or when bone loss affects oral health. A small graft is sometimes done at the same time as the implant. A larger graft needs months to heal first. Our guide on bone grafts and sinus lifts covers the types, the healing time and the risks. Town Center Dental’s bone grafting page describes its approach.

What can an implant replace?

An implant can replace one tooth, several teeth or a whole arch. Cleveland Clinic describes three kinds:

With every type, there must be enough jawbone to hold the implants. Our guide on dentures vs implants covers the full-arch choices in more detail.

How do implants compare with bridges and dentures?

Implants work on their own, without using nearby teeth. Cleveland Clinic says a tooth-supported bridge requires the dentist to shave down at least one tooth on either side of the gap, which can weaken natural tooth structure over time. An implant replaces a missing tooth without involving the neighbors.

Mayo Clinic adds that because the titanium fuses with the jawbone, implants will not slip or make noise the way dentures or fixed bridgework sometimes do. The trade-offs are time and surgery. Mayo Clinic says the process can take many months and may involve several procedures. Which one fits depends on your bone, your health, your other teeth and your goals.

How do I care for an implant?

Care for an implant the way you care for a natural tooth. Mayo Clinic gives three tips:

1. Keep your teeth and gums clean. An interdental brush can reach around the implant and its gums.
2. See your dentist regularly. Checkups confirm the implant is healthy.
3. Avoid damaging habits. Do not chew ice or hard candy, avoid tobacco and get treatment if you grind your teeth.

The FDA stresses the same point: regular cleaning of the implant and nearby teeth matters for long-term success. Follow the home care steps your dentist gives you.

What should I ask before I decide?

These questions help you compare plans:

1. Am I a candidate, and what could stop me from being one?
2. Will I need a bone graft or other prep work?
3. How many steps and visits are there, and how many months in all?
4. Who plans, places and restores the implant?
5. What temporary tooth will I wear?
6. What are the risks for my health history?
7. What is the estimate, and what might my insurance cover?
8. What follow-up and cleaning do you advise?

For cost, Town Center Dental does not publish prices. The office gives each patient their own estimate after an exam. Ask for it in writing.

Next step

If you are missing a tooth or thinking about alternatives to dentures, an exam is the first step. Read about dental implants at Town Center Dental, then call (636) 273-5866 or request an appointment.