The short answer
Most implant treatment runs over several months: consultation and imaging, any preparatory work, placing the implant, a healing period (commonly about two to six months), then the final crown or bridge. Extractions, grafting or a sinus lift add their own healing time. In selected cases a temporary tooth can go on at or soon after surgery, but the final tooth still comes after healing.
Explore how the path can change
Tick anything your dentist has mentioned. The stages below update to show where extra steps fit. This is a general picture, not your schedule. Only your dentist can give you that.
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Consultation and imaging
One or two visitsHistory, exam, X-rays and usually a CBCT scan, then a written plan.
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Gum treatment
VariesActive gum disease is treated and allowed to settle before implant surgery.
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Extraction
Often several weeks of healingThe tooth comes out. Sometimes graft material is placed in the socket at the same visit. In some cases the implant can go in at the same time.
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Bone graft or sinus lift
Usually several months of healingBone is rebuilt where it's thin or short. Sometimes this happens at the same appointment as the implant.
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Implant placement
One surgical visitUsually under local anaesthetic, with sedation available in many offices. A cover screw or healing cap protects the implant.
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Temporary tooth
At or soon after surgery, in selected casesOnly when the implant is very stable at placement. It's a temporary, and you'll usually be asked to go easy on it while you heal.
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Healing (osseointegration)
Commonly about 2 to 6 monthsThe bone grows onto the implant surface. Short check-ups make sure it's going well. For what the first days and weeks usually feel like, see healing and recovery after implant surgery.
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Final crown or bridge
Two or more visitsScans or impressions, lab work, then fitting and adjusting the final restoration.
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Looking after it
OngoingDaily cleaning at home, regular professional cleanings and check-ups.
Stage 1: Consultation and imaging
Everything starts with an exam, your medical history and imaging, usually including a 3D CBCT scan. The scan is often taken at a dental imaging centre by referral, and the images are sent to your dentist to plan from. You'll then talk through the plan, the alternatives and the estimate.
Our guide to what happens at a consultation covers this visit in detail.
Stage 2: Getting the site ready (if needed)
Not everyone needs this stage. When it's needed, it's usually for one of these reasons:
- Extraction: a damaged or infected tooth has to come out first
- Bone grafting: to rebuild bone that's too thin or too short
- Sinus lift: to add bone below the sinus for upper back implants
- Gum treatment: to settle active gum disease
A simple extraction site may heal in several weeks. Grafted sites usually need several months, sometimes longer, before they're ready for an implant. Your dentist checks healing before moving on.
Will I need any preparatory work, and how much time does it add?
Stage 3: Placing the implant
The implant, a small post usually made of titanium, is placed in the jawbone at the planned position. This is normally done under local anaesthetic. Many offices also offer sedation, depending on the case and what you prefer.
Most people have mild to moderate soreness afterwards, usually manageable with prescribed or over-the-counter pain relief. A bit of preparation beforehand can make the day and the first week easier.
Stage 4: Healing and osseointegration
Osseointegration is the process of bone growing directly onto the implant's surface. It was first described in the research of Brånemark and colleagues, and it's what lets an implant carry a tooth.
- Healing commonly takes about two to six months before the final restoration is attached, depending on the bone and the site
- Grafted sites may need longer
- The implant needs protecting from heavy forces while it integrates
- Short follow-up visits check that healing is on track
What about "teeth in a day"?
In selected cases, a temporary tooth or bridge can be attached at or soon after surgery. This is called immediate or early loading. A Cochrane review found it can work well when the implant is very stable when it's placed, but it isn't suitable for everyone. Either way, the final restoration still comes after healing.
Could a temporary tooth go on the same day as surgery in my case, and why or why not?
Stage 5: The final crown or bridge
Once the implant is stable, the visible part is made and fitted:
- Scans or impressionsTo record the implant's position and the teeth around it.
- Lab workA dental laboratory makes the crown, bridge or denture to match your mouth.
- The abutmentA connector attaches to the implant to hold the restoration.
- FittingThe restoration is attached, checked against your bite and adjusted.
The finished restoration is designed to look and work much like a natural tooth. It does feel a little different: an implant has no ligament around it, so biting sensation isn't quite the same.
Stage 6: The long term
An implant can't get a cavity, but the gum and bone around it can become inflamed if plaque builds up. Looking after it means:
- Brushing and cleaning between teeth every day, with any aids your hygienist suggests
- Regular professional cleanings and check-ups
- Periodic checks of the implant, the bone around it and the restoration
With good care, implants can stay stable and functional for many years. Systematic reviews report survival of roughly 94 to 96 percent at ten years. Individual results vary, and survival isn't quite the same as being problem-free, so check-ups matter.
Common questions
How long does the whole dental implant process take?
Usually several months from consultation to final restoration. Straightforward cases can be done in a few months; cases that need extractions, grafting or other preparation can take nine months or more. Your dentist can give you a timeline for your own case after the exam and imaging.
Can I eat normally while it heals?
Soft foods are usually recommended for the first week or two after surgery, then firmer foods are reintroduced gradually. You'll be asked to avoid chewing hard on the implant site while it integrates. Follow the specific advice your dentist gives you.
Will I have a gap while the implant heals?
Not necessarily. Depending on the site and the plan, options include a temporary removable tooth, a temporary bridge, or in selected cases a temporary crown on the implant itself. Ask what's planned for you.
What happens if an implant doesn't integrate?
If an implant doesn't bond with the bone, it may feel loose or sore. It's usually removed so the site can heal, and once it has, another implant can often be placed. Your dentist checks integration during healing so problems are caught early.
References
- Brånemark PI, Hansson BO, Adell R, et al. Osseointegrated implants in the treatment of the edentulous jaw: experience from a 10-year period. Scand J Plast Reconstr Surg Suppl. 1977;16:1-132.
- Buser D, Sennerby L, De Bruyn H. Modern implant dentistry based on osseointegration: 50 years of progress, current trends and open questions. Periodontol 2000. 2017;73(1):7-21.
- Esposito M, Grusovin MG, Maghaireh H, Worthington HV. Interventions for replacing missing teeth: different times for loading dental implants. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(3):CD003878.
- Moraschini V, Poubel LA, Ferreira VF, Barboza ES. Evaluation of survival and success rates of dental implants reported in longitudinal studies with a follow-up period of at least 10 years: a systematic review. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2015;44(3):377-388.
- Howe MS, Keys W, Richards D. Long-term (10-year) dental implant survival: a systematic review and sensitivity meta-analysis. J Dent. 2019;84:9-21.
