Replace Teeth in a Day – Your Expectations vs. Reality
Have you seen the advertising, "New teeth in just one day"?
Promoted as it has been for a decade now, by a "nationwide network of specialists" the demand for total tooth replacement in a single day has grown almost exponentially. While the truth is that this "network of specialists" more closely resembles the structure of a fast food franchise operation, the marketing of this procedure has created a strong demand for a procedure that can replace teeth in a day.
The reality of one-day tooth replacement therapy
The reality is that, despite the ubiquitous advertising you’ve seen, for most patients, it is not realistic to expect one-stop tooth replacement therapy to be successful. The reason for this is really quite simple – the placement of dental implants requires oral surgery – the placing of a titanium screw within the jaw bone, which requires time to heal.
Although dental implant surgery is relatively non-invasive, you will a healing process to take place afterward. Healing from implant surgery may take as little as two months, or as much as nine months. The length of time required depends almost entirely on the ability of your body to recover, as well as the expertise of your prosthodontist.
One your mouth has healed properly from the placement of your implants, your "replacement teeth" will be fabricated and fitted. Although you will be given temporary teeth to wear – emphasis must be placed on "temporary" your tooth replacement therapy will now enter the final phase.
This step will usually require a series of appointments to make impressions of your mouth and to "try-out" your replacement teeth during important steps in their fabrication. These fitting sessions are necessary to ensure that the size, shape, color and fit of your prosthetic teeth will blend with and match your individual facial characteristics and remaining natural teeth (if any). This phase is usually completed within four to eight weeks. Total treatment time for most implant cases will usually require something like five to eight months. If bone grafting or gum procedures are needed to ensure the best outcome, the time required will likely be longer.
Replacing your teeth in a single visit is, for the vast majority of dental implant patients, a temporary solution, with some 95% of patients requiring the more involved process.
The doctors and staff at The Colorado Center for Implants and Prosthetic Dentistry are your full-service Littleton dental implants specialist and are experts in all types of tooth replacement therapy. If you would like more information on your family’s dental needs, make an appointment today.