What Is The Dental Implant Healing Time Before Crown Placement?

Dental implant procedures can improve your smile and your way of life. They look and feel like natural teeth, and they function quite similarly. If you need to have an implant and crown, it is essential to understand what the procedures involve.

The implant is the titanium screw that the dentist inserts into your jawbone, and the crown is the top piece that resembles a real tooth. The dentist will insert the implant and apply the crown in different visits—the dental implant healing time before crown placement depends on your body's timeline.

What Happens After Implant Surgery?

The surgery that places the implant takes time to heal. The jaw needs to have time to integrate the titanium screw. Once the jaw bone accepts the screw, it will begin to grow new bone around it. This process is called osseointegration.

During the osseointegration, the dentist will cover the screw with a temporary crown to prevent the surgical site from becoming infected. Usually, the temporary cover is smaller than your other teeth to reduce the pressure from chewing on the implant itself.

After your surgery, your dentist will check your gum and bone for proper healing. Usually, the dentist wants to see you twice before placing the final crown, just to be sure everything is going well. During the first or second visit, you can expect your dentist to request a bite impression to design a permanent crown that will look like you were born with it.

What Is Involved In a Crown Placement?

When you have the impression taken, a dental assistant will use a goopy mixture called alginate and a tooth tray. They might take impressions of your top and bottom teeth, but not at the same time. The dentist will remove the temporary crown before the assistant takes the impression.

Usually, the mixture has to stay in your mouth for up to a minute to set it properly. The dental assistant will instruct you on how to breathe during this time, as it can be uncomfortable. After the tray is removed, an assistant will use it to make a mould of your teeth. It can take up to three weeks before the lab completes your customised crown.

Once the implant hole is healed, your dentist will put the permanent crown on the implant's abutment. A local anaesthetic will be used to numb the gum tissue. The dentist will then apply an adhesive to hold the crown in place over the implant abutment, which also helps to keep the implant in place.

What Is the Healing Time Required Before Crown Placement?

Sometimes, it can take between three and six months before the implant hole has adequately healed. However, a few patients can have the implant and permanent crown placed in the same appointment.

Patients with underlying conditions like diabetes or osteoporosis might have to wait longer for the implant site to heal. If you have more than one implant site, healing time often increases, too.