How Are Dental Implants Done Step-by-Step

If you are simply searching for step-by-step information about how are dental implants done and fitted, you are probably nervous about the procedure. You want to know exactly what happens, from the first consultation to the final crown. Let me walk you through each step so that you know exactly what to expect. No scary surprises.

The Short Answer

Dental implants are placed in multiple steps over 3-9 months: 1) Consultation and X-rays, 2) Tooth extraction (if needed), 3) Implant placement surgery, 4) Osseointegration healing (3-6 months), 5) Abutment placement, 6) Crown attachment. For full arches like All-on-4 or All-on-6, the process is similar but with multiple implants and a fixed bridge.

Step-by-Step: Single Dental Implant

Step 1: Initial Consultation (Week 1)

Your dentist examines your mouth, takes X-rays and reviews your medical history. They check bone density – if you have enough bone to support an implant. If not, you may need bone grafting (adds 3-6 months). You receive a treatment plan and cost estimate.

Time: 30-60 minutes

Step 2: Tooth Extraction (If Needed) (Week 1-2)

If you have a damaged tooth that needs removal, your dentist extracts it. They may place bone graft material immediately to preserve the socket. You wait 2-6 months for the socket to heal before implant placement.

Time: 20-40 minutes

Healing: 2-6 months

Step 3: Bone Grafting (If Needed) (Week 2-4)

If your jawbone is too thin or soft, your dentist adds bone graft material (from a donor, synthetic source, or your own bone). The graft needs 3-6 months to fuse with your existing bone before implant placement.

Time: 30-60 minutes

Healing: 3-6 months

Step 4: Implant Placement Surgery (Month 3-9 depending on healing)

This is the main procedure. Your dentist:

• Administers local anaesthetic (or sedation if you choose)
• Makes a small incision in your gum to expose the bone
• Drills a precise hole into the jawbone
• Screws the titanium implant into the hole
• Sews the gum closed over or around the implant

Time: 30-90 minutes per implant

Recovery: 3-7 days of swelling and mild pain

Step 5: Osseointegration (Healing Period) (Month 3-9)

Over 3-6 months, your jawbone grows around the titanium implant. This is called osseointegration – the implant becomes permanently fused to your bone. You eat soft foods and avoid chewing on that side. A temporary crown or denture may be placed for appearance.

Time: 3-6 months

Step 6: Abutment Placement (Month 6-12)

Once osseointegration is complete, your dentist re-opens the gum to attach the abutment – a small metal connector that holds the crown. Some implants have the abutment built-in. You wait 2-4 weeks for the gum to heal around the abutment.

Time: 20-40 minutes

Healing: 2-4 weeks

Step 7: Crown Attachment (Month 7-13)

Your dentist takes impressions of your mouth to create a custom crown (tooth-coloured porcelain or zirconia). The crown is cemented or screwed onto the abutment. Your implant is now complete.

Time: 30-60 minutes

Step-by-Step: Full Arch Implants (All-on-4 or All-on-6)

For full arches, the process is similar but with multiple implants and a fixed bridge instead of single crowns.

Step 1: Comprehensive Consultation

X-rays, medical history review, treatment planning. Your dentist determines if you need All-on-4 (4 implants per arch) or All-on-6 (6 implants per arch).

Step 2: Extractions and Implant Placement (Same Day)

If you have failing teeth, your dentist extracts them all in one session. Then they place 4-6 implants per arch immediately – often in the same appointment. This is called “immediate placement.”

Time: 3-5 hours for both arches

Step 3: Temporary Bridge (Same Day or Next Day)

Some clinics place a temporary acrylic bridge immediately. I skipped this – it is an upsell. You can wait 3 months without teeth or with dentures. I flew back to Australia without temporary teeth and healed fine.

Step 4: Osseointegration Healing (3-6 Months)

Same as single implants – your bone fuses to the implants. You eat soft foods and avoid hard chewing.

Step 5: Final Bridge Placement (Month 3-6)

Your dentist removes the temporary bridge (if you had one), takes impressions, and creates a permanent zirconia bridge. The final bridge is screwed or cemented onto your implants.

Time: 2 visits over 2-3 weeks

How Are Dental Implants Made?

Dental implants are precision-manufactured in medical-grade facilities. Here is the process:

• Titanium or zirconia: The raw material is medical-grade titanium alloy (Grade 4 or 5) or zirconia ceramic.
• Computer machining (CNC): The implant is shaped using computer-controlled lathes to exact specifications (e.g., Straumann’s 4.8mm diameter, 10mm length).
• Surface treatment: The implant surface is treated to promote bone bonding – e.g., Straumann’s SLActive®, Nobel Biocare’s TiUnite®, or Osstem’s SA surface.
• Sterilisation: Each implant is sterilised and sealed in a sterile blister pack.
• Traceability: Each implant has a unique batch number for tracking.

Reputable brands (Straumann, Nobel Biocare, BEGO, Osstem) manufacture implants to ISO 13485 medical device standards – the same as surgical hip replacements.

Can a Dentist Install Dental Implants in 1 Day?

Yes and no. The implant screw can be placed in one day (same-day surgery). However, you cannot get the final crown on the same day. The implant needs 3-6 months of healing (osseointegration) before the crown can be attached. Some clinics offer “teeth in a day” – this means a temporary crown or bridge placed immediately after surgery. The final crown comes months later. Be wary of clinics promising “permanent teeth in one day” – this is not medically possible.

How Painful Is Getting a Dental Implant?

During the surgery, you feel no sharp pain – only pressure. Local anaesthetic numbs the area completely. If you choose sedation, you may not remember the procedure at all. After surgery (when anaesthetic wears off), you will have discomfort and swelling for 2-4 days. Most patients describe it as similar to a tooth extraction. Over-the-counter painkillers (ibuprofen/paracetamol) manage the pain effectively. I was sightseeing on day three after my All-on-6 surgery. It is not as bad as you fear.

How Are Dental Implants Removed?

Implant removal is rare (2-5% failure rate) but possible. The procedure:

• Local anaesthetic to numb the area
• The dentist makes a small incision in the gum to expose the implant
• A special instrument (trephine drill or implant removal kit) is used to unscrew or drill out the implant
• The socket is cleaned and bone graft material may be placed
• Healing takes 3-6 months before a new implant can be placed

Implants are designed to stay in place. Removal is more complex than placement. This is why choosing a skilled dentist and quality brand matters from the start.

What Is the Downside of Having Dental Implants?

Implants are excellent, but they have downsides:

• Cost: Expensive upfront (though cheaper than bridges/dentures over a lifetime)
• Time: The process takes 3-9 months from start to finish
• Surgery: Minor surgery with risks of infection, nerve damage, or implant failure (2-5% failure rate)
• Healing: You cannot chew on the implant for 3-6 months during osseointegration
• Maintenance: Requires diligent cleaning – implants can fail from peri-implantitis if neglected
• Not suitable for everyone: Smokers, uncontrolled diabetics, and patients with certain medical conditions have higher failure rates

Do They Put You to Sleep to Do Dental Implants?

Usually not. Most dental implants are placed under local anaesthetic (numbing injections) – you are awake but feel no pain. However, options for sedation include:

• Local anaesthetic only: Most common. You are fully awake.
• Oral sedation: A pill (like Valium) to relax you. You are awake but drowsy.
• IV sedation (twilight sleep): You are conscious but very relaxed and may not remember the procedure. Common for full arches.
• General anaesthesia: Fully asleep. Rare for implants – usually only for complex cases or patients with severe anxiety.

I had IV sedation for my All-on-6. I remember nothing after the first injection. Woke up with implants in place. Discuss sedation options with your dentist.

Ready? Let Us Talk

I am Tom. I got my own All-on-6 implants in Turkey. I am based in Melbourne, but if you’re thinking about going to Turkey for treatment, I can be your local guide. I can be there waiting for you. I do not work for clinics. I work for you.

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