Osseointegration: how implants fuse with bone
The natural process that makes implants so strong.
In the 1950s and 60s, Swedish professor Per-Ingvar Brånemark discovered by accident that bone grows tightly onto titanium. He called it osseointegration. It is the reason modern implants work.
How long it takes
Typically 6–8 weeks in the lower jaw and 8–12 weeks in the upper jaw, where bone is softer. Modern rough and hydrophilic surfaces aim to speed this up.
What helps
- A stable implant with no movement during healing
- Good blood supply and healthy bone
- Not smoking