A dental implant usually takes four to six months from placement to the finished tooth. Most of that time is healing between visits, not time in the chair: the implant has to fuse with your jawbone before it can carry a crown, and that part can't safely be rushed. In total, most patients come in for about six to seven visits.
The timeline, step by step
1. Consultation and X-ray — 1 visit
A full examination and digital X-ray to check your bone, gums and bite, and to work out whether an implant is the right answer for you. Sometimes it isn't, and we'll say so.
2. Your treatment plan, in writing — 1 visit
How many implants, how long it will take, what it will cost, and any preparatory work such as a bone graft. You take the plan home and decide in your own time.
3. Implant placement — 1 visit
The implant is placed under local anaesthesia. You'll feel pressure but not pain, and you go home the same day with after-care instructions and a number to call if anything worries you.
4. Healing — 3 to 6 months
The bone grows onto the implant surface, a process called osseointegration. We see you for healing check-ups during this time. Lower jaws often heal faster than upper jaws, and grafted sites take longer.
5. Abutment and digital scan — 1 visit
Once healing is confirmed, a small connector called an abutment is attached and scanned with our Medit intraoral scanner — no impression trays, no putty.
6. Your final crown — 1 to 2 visits
A custom crown, designed from your scan and shade-matched to your natural teeth, is fitted and adjusted until the bite feels right. You leave with the finished tooth.
Why can't the healing be rushed?
An implant only works if bone has grown firmly onto it. Loading it with chewing forces too early can stop that from happening, and trying to shorten this stage is one of the most common reasons implants fail. Your check-ups during healing are how we confirm it's ready.
Can the implant go in the same day the tooth comes out?
Sometimes. In suitable cases the implant can be placed immediately after the tooth is removed, which saves a separate healing stage for the extraction site. Whether that's safe depends on the bone around the tooth and whether there's infection, and we'll tell you honestly at your consultation. You can see an immediate placement case in our implant case gallery.
What makes it take longer?
- A bone graft — if there isn't enough bone, it's built up first, which adds healing time before or alongside the implant.
- A sinus lift — for some upper back teeth.
- Gum disease — it needs to be under control before an implant is placed.
- Smoking and some health conditions — can slow healing. Tell us at consultation so we can plan for it.
Will I have a gap while it heals?
Ask us about this at your consultation. Depending on where the tooth is, there are options to avoid a visible gap while the implant heals, and we'll go through what suits your case.
Planning around travel or work abroad?
Because placement and the final crown are separate visits months apart, it helps to plan your dates early. A virtual consultation is available if you're overseas, and our dental tourism page explains how to fit treatment around a visit home.
How much does an implant cost? · Dental implants at Modern Smiles · Book a consultation
Written by Dr. Jordi Izzard A. Landayan, Prosthodontist · Last reviewed October 2026. Timelines vary by case and are confirmed after clinical evaluation.