How Long Is The Procedure For Implant Crowns?

When it comes to replacing a missing tooth, dental implants are often a preferred option, especially when a traditional crown is not suitable.

Getting an implant crown usually takes several months and involves several stages, from the initial consultation to the placement of the abutment and the fitting of the crown.

In this post, we’ll review all the procedures so you can explain that to your patients in all detail. 

What are Dental Implant Crowns?

Dental implant crowns are a type of dental restoration that replaces missing teeth. The crown, typically made of porcelain, is mounted on top of an implant post-surgically placed into the jawbone.

The implant crown restores functionality to the mouth and provides a natural-looking aesthetic and aesthetically-pleasing solution for restoring a person’s smile.

Read more: Dental Implant Crowns: Differences and Advantages over Tradicional Crowns

The benefits of dental implant crowns

Dental implant crowns provide various benefits compared to traditional dental restoration methods. Since the implant post is surgically placed into the jawbone, it permanently replaces a missing tooth.

The crown is also stronger and more durable, as it is resistant to decay or other damage that can occur to traditional dental restorations. Additionally, implant crowns look and feel more natural than traditional crowns, helping the patient to feel confident and comfortable with their smile.

Finally, implant crowns can help improve a patient's oral health by giving them the necessary support their jawbone needs to remain strong and healthy.

Learn more about Keating's stellar Dental Crowns and Bridges!

How Long Is The Procedure For Implant Crowns?

The process usually takes several months, including initial consultation, dental imaging, manufacturing, and sedation.

It all starts with an initial consultation, where you will examine your patient’s mouth to determine if getting an implant is the right option. After that, you’ll need to take a dental CT scan to assess the position of the jawbone and see what kind of implant best suits your patient’s needs.

Between the scan and the actual placement, the data is sent to a dental laboratory to analyze and manufacture the dental implant tailored to your patient. When the implant is ready to be placed, you will be sedated, and the dentist will surgically place the implant post into the jawbone.

The surgical placement of the implant post usually takes around an hour, followed by up to six months of healing time to allow the post to fuse with the jawbone. Once healed, an abutment is placed, and a customized crown is fitted onto the post, completing the procedure.

Never stop learning. Check out Keating's overview of the Diagnostic Dental Wax-Ups.

Altogether, the process for dental implant crowns from start to finish can take anywhere from 4 to 10 months.

To summarize, this is what the procedure for dental implant crowns looks like:

Steps of the procedures

1. Preparation - Initial consultation and dental imaging, followed by manufacturing in the dental lab.
2. Placement - Surgical placement of the implant post
3. Restoration - Abutment placement and crown fitting 

After Care: what to expect after the dental implant crown procedure

Once the procedure is complete, the patient must follow up with you to ensure that the implant is healing properly.

The patient will also need to take extra measures to ensure that their implant crown lasts for years to come. They must take good care of the implant, including brushing and flossing regularly and avoiding hard or sticky foods.

 The implant crown may last for up to 10 years with proper care.

Final Thoughts: It takes time, but it’s worth it.

Getting an implant crown is a lengthy process, but it can offer a more permanent and natural-looking solution for restoring missing teeth. From the initial consultation to the final fitting, patients can expect the process to span several months.

It is also important to remind your patients to follow post-procedure care guidelines to ensure that their implant crown is healthy and lasts for years to come.