The most common misunderstanding about implants is that they are a single appointment. They are not — the healing between steps is what makes an implant last.
Before you travel
- X-ray and CBCT review (1-2 weeks) — a clinician checks bone height, bone width and sinus position, and confirms you are a candidate.
- Written plan and quote — including which steps are done on which trip.
Trip one
- Day 1-2: consultation and CBCT — the final decision on implant size, position and angle.
- Day 2-3: placement — the fixture is inserted under local anaesthetic. Usually 45-90 minutes for a single implant.
- Day 4-7: settling — swelling peaks at 48 hours. Soft food, no smoking, prescribed antibiotics if indicated.
- Day 7-10: review and fly home — most clinics want to see you once more before you leave.
Healing at home (3-6 months)
The bone fuses to the fixture — this is called osseointegration. Nothing visible happens, but this is the part you cannot rush. Your clinic should give you a written review schedule and a contact for questions.
Trip two
- Abutment and crown — impressions or a digital scan, then the final crown is fitted.
- Typical stay: 5-10 days.
When it can be faster
For a single front tooth with good bone, some clinics do "immediate load" — a temporary crown on the same trip. It works, but not for every case, and it is the first thing a rushed quote will promise.
What stretches the timeline
- A bone graft or sinus lift: add 4-6 months before placement.
- Infection or a failed fixture: back to the start of healing.
- Uncontrolled diabetes or smoking: slower fusion, sometimes no fusion.
The honest summary
One trip can place the implant. A second trip, three to six months later, finishes it. Any quote that promises a finished implant in one short trip is either using immediate load inappropriately, or is not telling you about the second trip.