Treatments 3 min read
Dental Implant Procedure Step by Step: Visits, Healing and Timeline
A dental implant takes several visits and a healing period. Here is what each stage involves and why the bone needs time to bond.
This guide relates to our dental implants treatment.
Visit one: the consultation and scan
The implant procedure at our Multan clinic starts with a consultation. We take your health history, because smoking, uncontrolled diabetes and some medicines can affect healing. Then we take X-rays or a 3D scan to check the bone and plan where the implant will sit.
Nothing is placed at this stage. The scan shows whether the bone is enough, whether a graft is needed, and what the final tooth should look like.
Visit two: placing the implant
The implant is placed into the jawbone under local anaesthesia, so you are awake but the area is numb. The visit usually takes one to two hours, and our visit plan lists the surgery as the longest appointment in the process.
Swelling and soreness are common for two to three days afterwards. Cold packs, simple pain relief and soft food help. Follow the aftercare sheet, and tell us if pain gets worse rather than better.
Healing: why the bone needs time
The implant needs time to bond with the bone before it can carry a crown. MouthHealthy describes this healing period: some patients wait up to several months before replacement teeth are attached, while others have the implant and the teeth in one visit.
Healing between surgery and crown usually takes three to six months in our plans, and the NHS Guy's and St Thomas' service describes the whole treatment as taking about 6 to 12 months. The time depends on the bone and on how well you look after the area.
Visit three: fitting the crown
Once the implant has bonded, a connector is attached and the custom crown is fitted. We check the bite and the appearance before the crown is fixed, and we make small adjustments if they are needed.
After the crown: follow-up and cleaning
Keep the implant clean with gentle brushing and the cleaning method we show you. Regular checkups keep the gums around the implant healthy, which matters as much as the implant itself for long-term results.
What to expect at each visit
Each stage has a different purpose, and the length of each visit is part of the plan. The table shows the typical length of each visit in our plans, so you can arrange the time and any travel.
| Visit | Typical length | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Consultation and scan | 30 to 60 minutes | Health history, X-ray or 3D scan, and a plan agreed with you |
| Implant placement | 1 to 2 hours | Local anaesthesia, the implant is placed in the bone, and you receive aftercare advice |
| Healing checks | 30 to 60 minutes | The gum and implant are checked while the bone bonds |
| Crown fitting | 30 to 60 minutes | The connector is attached, the crown is checked for bite and appearance, then fixed |
How to prepare for the first visit
Bring a list of the medicines you take and any health conditions you have, including diabetes or blood-thinning medicines. If you have had X-rays or a scan from another dentist, bring them, because they can save time and show the bone in the same area.
Write down the questions you want to ask. The first visit is the best time to ask about the timeline, the number of visits, and what happens if healing takes longer than expected.
What happens on the day of surgery
The area is numbed with local anaesthesia before the implant is placed, so you should not feel pain during the procedure. You may feel pressure and movement, and you may hear the sound of the instruments.
Once the procedure is complete, we explain how to manage swelling, when to take pain relief, and what to eat. We also tell you whether you should arrange for someone to take you home, based on how the procedure went.
This article is general information. Please see a dentist for advice about your own teeth.
Frequently asked questions
Will I need more than one visit?
Yes. Most treatments take three to four visits or more, including the consultation, the surgery and the crown fitting, spread over several months.
Can I have the implant and the teeth on the same day?
Some patients have the implant and the teeth in one visit, according to MouthHealthy. Whether that is possible depends on your case, so we decide it after the scan.
What can I eat while the implant heals?
Soft food for the first few days is the usual advice. We will tell you when to return to normal chewing at your follow-up.
Will I be awake during implant surgery?
Yes. Local anaesthesia numbs the area, so you are awake but should not feel pain while the implant is placed.
What if the implant does not bond with the bone?
We check healing at each follow-up. If an implant does not bond, we explain the options, which can include replacing it.
What should I bring to my first visit?
A list of your medicines and health conditions, any previous X-rays or scans, and the questions you want to ask.
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Have a question about your own teeth?
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