How Long Can You Have An Implant Without A Crown?

How long you can have an implant without a crown depends mostly on healing, which often takes about 3 to 9 months before your dentist can add the crown. The crown waits for this time on purpose, so the bone can bond with the implant. 

In this guide, My Dental & Implants explains why the wait exists, what may happen if the crown is delayed too long, and when to call your dentist.

Quick Overview: How Long Until You Get the Crown?

Here is a typical tooth extraction and implant timeline. All times are approximate and vary from person to person:

Is Crown Necessary After Implant?

Yes. A dental implant needs a crown to work as a tooth. The implant is a small post that replaces the tooth root and sits in the jawbone. It cannot be used for chewing on its own. A small connector called the abutment joins the post to the crown. 

The crown is the part you see and chew with, so it completes the tooth. While the implant heals, your dentist may place a healing cap on it, or a temporary tooth if it is near the front of your mouth. According to Mayo Clinic, the final crown goes on once your dentist confirms the implant is stable.

Why Dental Implants Need a Crown

Without a crown, an implant cannot do the work of a tooth. The crown matters for these reasons:

• It lets you chew your food
• It helps you speak clearly
• It fills the gap in your smile
• It helps keep neighboring teeth from shifting into the gap left by a missing tooth. (Cleveland Clinic)

The post alone is not a finished tooth, so the crown is the step that completes your treatment.

How Long Can I Wait to Get Crown After Implant?

How long you can have an implant without a crown has two parts, the healing time and the time after healing. No fixed deadline exists after healing, so your dentist is the best guide. Below, we explain how long the implant takes to heal, what happens if the crown waits after healing, and what can change the timeline.

How Long Can You Have an Implant Without a Crown

According to Cleveland Clinic, the implant takes about 3 to 9 months to heal, depending on how quickly your body heals. The first round of healing takes about one week. After that, the jawbone slowly bonds with the implant and makes it stable. Your dentist checks your progress and adds the crown once the implant has healed.

What Happens If the Crown Waits After Healing?

The crown is usually scheduled soon after your dentist confirms the implant is stable. If the crown waits too long, a few things can happen:

• Gum tissue can grow over or pull back from the healing cap
• Nearby teeth may drift
• Your bite may change
• Food and plaque can collect around the open site

These are possible, not certain, and your dentist can check for each one. If you have been waiting for a while, a short visit can show where things stand.

What Changes the Timeline

Your timeline is not the same for everyone. According to Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic, these factors can make it shorter or longer. Your dentist can tell you how each one applies to you after an exam.

• Your body’s healing speed can make the wait shorter or longer
• A bone graft can add healing time. If the jaw has lost bone, Dental Implants With Bone Loss explains how a graft can rebuild support before the implant goes in. 
• An implant that does not fuse can add time
• Smoking after dental implant can slow healing

When Should You See a Dentist After Getting a Dental Implant?

Some signs mean your implant needs attention. According to Cleveland Clinic, signs like these can point to a problem with an implant. Call your dentist if you notice any of the signs below:

• A loose or wobbly implant
• Bleeding or swollen gums
• Pus around the implant
• Fever or swollen lymph nodes in the neck, along with the signs above
• A healing cap that comes loose or falls out
• A crown appointment that has been put off for months

Pain around an implant needs an exam, not a home remedy. Many people look up how long to Leave Garlic on a Toothache for a natural tooth, but that advice does not apply to an implant.

If You Have Already Waited

Many people delay a crown because of cost, travel, or health. You do not need to feel bad about it. Here are three simple steps to get your implant checked and your crown planned:

1. Call your dentist and ask for an exam and X-rays.
2. Ask the dentist to check how stable the implant is, the gum tissue around the healing cap, and your bite.
3. If cost is the reason, ask about our financing options, which list CareCredit and Cherry. We also have an in-house membership plan. Approval and savings depend on your situation.

Conclusion

How long you can have an implant without a crown depends on your healing, and your dentist can tell you when the implant is ready. The crown should go on soon after your dentist confirms the implant is stable. A long delay may affect your gums, nearby teeth, and bite, so an exam is the best way to know where you stand. 

At My Dental & Implants in Glendale, we help you understand where your implant stands and plan the next step toward your crown. To schedule an implant check with Dr. Afzalian, call (623) 300-2550 or book online.

Share this Article