Why do I need to wait so long before I get a tooth on my dental implant?

Dental implants go through a process called osseointegration. When the dental implant is first placed into the bone it is held in place by the tightness of the threads in the bone. Since bone is a living tissue, it responds to the pressure from these threads. If there is too much pressure like sometimes occurs when a crown is placed on the implant the same day, the bone will loosen around the implant and the implant will become loose where it is of no use. If the implant is given time to heal without excessive pressure, the bone will heal to the implant (osseointegrate) to the point the implant cannot be removed and can now support the planned restoration. This process takes approximately 3-4 months, but when complete, you have a strong implant that is expected to last for many years to come.

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