Dental care · 2 min read
How many visits do dental implants take?
What can happen at assessment, implant placement, healing and final restoration, and why schedules vary.
An implant is one component in a restoration. The stages may involve different appointments and an interval for healing. Ask for your proposed timeline in writing before buying flights, with the points that could change clearly marked.
Separate assessment from placement
A dentist assesses your mouth and may use imaging to plan treatment. Ask whether you will need any preparation and whether it changes the number or timing of visits. If the plan was discussed remotely, ask what the dentist will confirm at the examination and how a change affects your booking.
Distinguish temporary teeth from the final result
A temporary restoration may be used while the implant heals. A date for fitting it can differ from the date for the permanent crown or bridge. Guy’s and St Thomas’ patient guide describes a healing interval of at least three months in many cases before the implant supports replacement teeth. Your dentist should explain the timing for your case.
Plan around the follow-up
Get the earliest and latest likely dates for a return visit. Ask who reviews healing, whether your own dentist can see the records and what happens if you cannot travel on the planned date. Keep some flexibility in bookings until the treating team confirms the next stage.
Sources and further reading
- Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust: having a dental implant
- NHS: dental treatments
- General Dental Council: going abroad for dental treatment
Some linked sources are published in other languages.
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