What is the Healing Time for Dental Implants?

The exact healing time for dental implants varies slightly for each person and is influenced by:

• Type of dental implant
• Availability of healthy, substantial jawbone
• Your body's unique reaction to healing

After a dental implant is placed in your jawbone, four to six months are required for "osseointegration," the process in which the implant fuses with the jawbone. Although six months may seem like a long time, it is important to remember that dental implants are the permanent way to replace missing teeth. The successful integration of bone and implant is critical to the implant's permanence.

Shortly after we have determined osseointegration has taken place, the tooth crown can be placed on top of the implant.

In some cases, people do not have enough jawbone to support the implant. In these cases, bone grafting or other procedures may be necessary to build adequate bone prior to placement of the dental implant. These procedures may require a few more months before the implant can be placed.

To find out if you are a candidate for dental implants in Bellevue, Washington or the surrounding areas, please contact the experienced Bellevue dentists at CooleySmiles to schedule a consultation.