These are some of the realities of how long dental implants take to complete. This video is worth your time!
It can take anywhere from one day with immediate loaded teeth all the way to 2 years. This video reviews the rationale for when you can go fast and when it needs to go slow.
It is a follow-up to an older video from some years ago when I had more hair 😉
This is an update to that previous post.
Some dental implants can go very fast some need time. The key is safety, predictability and longevity of your dental implant procedure.
IT IS NOT A RACE!!
Ramsey A. Amin, D.D.S.
Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology /Implant Dentistry
Fellow-American Academy of Implant Dentistry
Thank you for this informative article. The explanation that dental implants can take anywhere from one day to a much longer timeline, depending on the case, provides a very helpful perspective.
Not sure where to post my question but I’m desperate for some input. Got upper and lower All on 4 10 months ago. Had major amount of bone grafts. I have the final “permanent” set in but still need adjustments as the upper is very ill fitting. Here’s my issues 1) thin dark lines running from inside nostrils to upper lip and corners of mouth where they end in hard white bumps 2)constant feeling of something lodged in front throat and constant throat clearing 3)eyelids and brow bone is puffy and eyebrows have thinned A LOT 4)skin feels waxy and greasy like it’s coated with something and is very sensitive 5)this first spread to my hands and now is pretty much my whole body – lines, bumps, discoloration, sticky feeling skin, and swelling .mostly in hands, feet and knees. I haven’t seen the dentist since the procedure,all follow ups are with dental assistant. He so returns my calls and insists everything is normal and I “need to relax”.
Hi Dr. Ramsey Amin, I am in NC and need to consult with a dental implant specialist. My problem is that I have a failing bridge on my RU molars. My left Upper has a broken off crown(only roots left). I really want to consider a full upper implant denture. I am a professional and can’t really go without teeth, but I have heard/read that immediate placement has a high failure rate. Seems to be so much contradictory information out there I am having a difficult time finding the right answers. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Any DDS recommendation in NC would also be helpful. Thank you for all of your time/videos and responses. All extremely helpful.
Immediate is more technique sensitive and requires high skill. I do this everyday for 20’years now….it works GREAT
I know all cases differ Doctor Ramsey but assuming nothing unusual a front upper tooth implant that would need a small amount of bone graft when you remove the tooth would your under these circumstances place the bone graft and insert the implant in the same procedure or would you pull the tooth place the bone graft and let the graft heal for a few months before placing the implant. My goal is the best possible outcome. Thank you.
in the hands of an expert almost all the time it is better to place the implant at the same time…. You need to do extreme due diligence because front teeth require a very high level of skill for them to look good and be long lasting. They require the highest degree of skill possible.
Well I have periodontal disease been had it for about 3yrs now…but my problem is I can’t afford the treatment for that just yet..and I have a loose front tooth..just one so I was wondering should o just let them pull that on tooth and replace it for now..and then go back for periodontal treatment..?
It would NOT be good to replace a tooth in the presence of active gum disease. This will put a nail in the coffin ⚰️ for the implant.
For now, remove it and do a stayplate or essix bridge.
https://www.burbankdentalimplants.com/flipper-stayplate-bridge-temporary-implant-bone-graft-facts/
Dr. Amin your opinion will be greatly appreciated. I had a chipped front upper tooth in an accident in my early 20’s and had a Cap placed on the tooth. Every 5 years I had to have the cap replaced because my body was literally pushing ( my dentist said rejecting ) the tooth from my body by filling in bone behind it. I now at age 60 will have to have an implant because there is very little of the tooth root left in my jaw bone where the root was previously is all now bone.
My question is have you ever seen this before because I worry that when I have the implant my body may very well reject it also and begin pushing it out. Any input much appreciated.
Hi Dr. Amin, I hope you can give me some advice. I am scheduled to have total upper implants in 2 weeks. I have had upper dentures for 5 years. I am 73 with many health challenges. I have RA, Osteoprosis, Osteoarthritis, Severe Gerd, and CVID requiring infusions monthly of Globulin. My bone loss has been severe and my dentures are loose, won’t stay in with poly grip glue stuff. I did see an Oral Surgeon, well respected, who said he could help me with 6 implants using my cheekbones for stability. He did also say it was a 15 to 20% chance of failure. It will take everything I have in savings, which will leave me with no cushion. I am terrified of the day the dentures will not stay in my mouth, and I will no longer have upper teeth. I would never go out of my home again if that happens, I would be too embarrassed . What are your recommendations. The surgeon is a good friend and business partner of my neighbor and good friend , so, I believe in him. After this, if I proceed, I will never have any money for do overs!
Hi
I had mini implants in my upper. 12 days ago ( 6 minis on an immediate denture ) after 8 teeth were extracted
My question is is it normal to have the immediate denture on for a mth while the healing takes place? I’m using only a waterpik per her instructions.im worried that long not taking them out could be a bad thing ?
My dentist also said it was ok to have a few drinks ( New Years and all) it that ok ? What is the real consequence with alcohol consumption ( although not much) and mini dental implants
Hello Dr. Amin,
I am 37 year old and was diagnosed with very advanced periodontitis after my second pregnancy and my upper and lower incisors were mobile due to severe bone loss. I went to a periodontist and she recommended Osseous surgery with bone graft and guided tissue regeneration. I have very severe gum recession even on the tongue side. Its been 3 months since the surgery and my teeth are still mobile. When asked for splinting my doctor feels its not necessary. As the bones heal, the mobility will go away. Please suggest if I need any other treatment or should i push for splinting? will i need implants very soon?
First let me just say, I wish I would’ve found you over a year and a half ago when I had my FIRST of two go arounds with this procedure. I would gladly recommend you to everyone I know and I do not live anywhere near CA. I am confident with my current dentist but I do have a question. My locators are in and I had impressions done 2 days ago. Should I be concerned that my 5 locators are not all the same height? Thank you.
I wish I had found this site before embarking on my treatment. I have learned so much in the understandable language you use. Thank you for the time you take here.
Basically it has taken 18 months to get my definitive restoration of upper and lower implant bar retained overdentures after an horrendous experience including dismissal of my problems, ie, that hurts…reply, it shouldn’t, burning my gums during treatment but offering no remedial treatment and doing surgery without my consent. ( I had a bad infection but had a panic attack when he said I needed surgery and said I couldn’t do it and pleaded with him to delay it. ) I lost confidence in him and the senior partner offered to finish the restoration. Great. He kept asking if Iwas happy with the work already done ie the implants. They seemed stable and painfree and I joked they could be up my nose for all I knew but seemed ok. He began the restoration work and then informed me after several weeks that he could not give me the aesthetics I wanted because of an implant in my upper jaw and that I would have prominent teeth. I asked if it was poorly placed and he said no, it’s in the bone!
Two finals later I am left with prominent teeth, significant speech impediment, pressure and pain on the implants, midline way off centre, covered pallet instead of the chrome cobalt horseshoe I had paid for, I whistle when I speak and I drool. He is now offering me a fixed bridge but from your information, I don’t see how the original implants would support this?
I had a second opinion and this dentist thought I had gone to a cheap dentist abroad, said he had stopped using these implants in 2002, the implant in the middle of my upper jaw is too far forward, 2 implants in the bottom jaw were already compromised in that they were 3-4 threads above the bone, the top bar does not fit the implants and the restoration was unacceptable,
I have asked for a full refund in the hope of finding someone who can improve my situation but they don’t reply. Litigation in the UK is novel and uncertain in these circumstances
Any pearls of wisdom would be much appreciated.
Sounds like the second opinion is the way to go. I would consider not using one or 2 of the implants that are not in a great position. As long as you have for 5 implants per jaw you might want to “sleep” or just remove the ones that are in the way. Then you can make temporary prosthesis that is fixed rather than removable over dentures to work out all of the things you describes such as speech, aesthetics etc. I’m sorry positive bad experience. For most of my patients this is life changing in such a beneficial way.
1. Is there a case in which the gum has receded too far (years after an extraction) to put in a molar implant-even with bone graft?
2. Can you remove my own tori and use that bone for a gum graft to build the bone loss …..and then put in an implant?
1. very very rare but it takes a person with a lot of skilled and experienced to rebuild these areas that are very very deficient. Typically you would need gum and bone graft.
2. Tori do not make great bone grafts but some shavings added to a softer bone graft material can be beneficial. Here is an article on tori
I appreciate you! Thanks for the answer. May I ask, will I taste or will my mouth smell metallic at ANY time after a dental implant is placed?
No
Just wanted to thank you for your informative website and blog. I just completed the process of full-mouth implants here in South Jersey, with an amazing periodontist. I couldn’t be happier with the outcome. It was expensive, but it was worth it, to me, to have the work done by a professional with a high level of expertise. This is not something you want to go cheap on.
My periodontist and his team did an excellent job of explaining everything and answering questions, but your website provides a lot of detailed information beyond what I thought of to ask. It’s a real service to anyone considering, getting, or living with implants.
thank you for your very kind words 😉
I lost my central and lateral incisor at 5, I’ve been undergoing orthodontics at UCLA for the past 8 years. I’m currently 19 and about to have a block bone graft from the bone behind my lower wisdom tooth(32). They plan to place only one implant, with some sort of double crown possibly anchored to the canine. I haven’t asked my ortho about cadaver bone, do you think it’s a viable option? I’m also worried about the possibility of long term nerve damage or bone rejection, which hasn’t been discussed at all. I have a tounge thrust aswel that has prevented retainers from working in the past, which I’m also worried about impacting the non-anchored false incisor connected to the implant. Do you think there’s any cause for concern here?
Hello again Dr. Amin,
Finally getting my implant done on Wed. On #14. Please remember my concerns of past sinus lift of vertigo and torn retina. Dr did the lateral lift- all went well. Does he have to drill a lot for implant? Lots of vibrating? That concerns me. Also my dentist retired and the new one uses Cerac crown on the implant. Would like your thoughts on the cerac crown and also thoughts on the vibrating which bothers vertigo and retina.?
Thank you so very much!!😊
Lani
Hi Dr Ramsey Amin, my querie is if a patient was going to have the upper and lower prettau zirconia fixed bridges .. when the teeth were extracted I assume the first stage implant is put into the mouth /bone in strategic places RE the plan of weight bearing /balance and occlusion then the gum it stitched over to heal… how do the temporaries stay in the mouth as at this stage there would be nothing the temporary bridges could lock into as healing would have to happen first ? as this is the first stage of the (foundations )…So do the temporary bridges come in the form of removable dentures , then after the healing is that when the second stage of the implant is attached to the first stage ( by RE opening the gum) and then more healing ?then do a 2nd lot of temporary bridges take over ? and then when all healing is completed, is this when the final prettau zirconia bridges complete the work/ this is if no bone grafts were required / I understand there could be variants with different patients hence different senarios ,no one has given me a detailed treatment plan as yet only I have enough bone and an approx 6 month time frame and //or some still want to do that basic all on 4 with plastic type teeth in one day….l feel I need more information and you are the only person that is so informative and generous with your knowledge experience and time and last but not least the only one I completely trust. I endured a knee injury and that has set me back, my dental situation is not good / I would be very interested in your reply but only when you have the time, as i know you are a very busy man .,…..kindest regards Julie Shea 😁
Most of my cases I will extract them in place the implant simultaneously. The patient will leave with a fixed bridge within 24 hours of the procedure even on both arches. Because of my advance training and experience this is the norm for me. Some patients need to be transitioned through a denture because of very soft bone usually on the upper jaw.
Hello Dr Amin,thank you for your reply, I saw another
Implant surgeon last week I thought I should get another scan as my previous one was at least year ago, I will find out the results next week/ he was suggesting to do the lower first, I said it is not just the scan it is the overall plan /do those words sound familiar😁I did mention how I am a great fan of yours , he did not know of you ,so I said if he was interested to check out your web site and blogs I said it is amazing (I have been doing a lot of research here and not making any real progress and my dental is getting worse, if I can arrange things my end would I be able to come and see you?) kindest regards ,julie
Where are you located. I need help please
Burbank California