Dental · Dental Implants · Procedure

Full Mouth Dental Implants: The Procedure, Step by Step

The real decision is fixed versus removable and how many fixtures per arch — the phrase covers everything from 8 implants to 12. This page covers the full mouth dental implants appointment itself — what is prepared beforehand, what happens in the chair, and what the first hours afterwards feel like. Plan for 2-3 surgical stages and 10-14 days, then 4-6 months for the final work.

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Quick answer

Chair time runs roughly 20-30 minutes per fixture once the flap is open, so a single implant is a short appointment while a full arch typically occupies two to three hours including the temporary. Implant placement is done under local anaesthetic infiltrated around the ridge; you stay awake, feel pressure and drilling vibration but no pain. IV sedation is offered for longer arch cases and for patients with a strong gag reflex. The real decision is fixed versus removable and how many fixtures per arch — the phrase covers everything from 8 implants to 12.

Before your procedure

What's confirmed before you're in the chair.

  • A CBCT scan, not a panoramic X-ray, to measure bone height and width at each planned site
  • A list of blood thinners, bisphosphonates and diabetes medication sent to the surgeon in advance
  • Any active gum infection treated before the surgical date, not on the same visit
  • Confirmation of the implant brand and the abutment system in writing, so future servicing is possible anywhere
  • A written, fixed price covering 2-3 surgical stages — confirmed before you fly, not on arrival
Step by step

What happens during full mouth dental implants.

  • Stop 01

    Records check on arrival

    Your scan or photographs are reviewed in person against the remote plan. The real decision is fixed versus removable and how many fixtures per arch — the phrase covers everything from 8 implants to 12.

  • Stop 02

    Site preparation

    The gum is reflected and the osteotomy is drilled in graduated steps under saline irrigation to keep the bone below 47°C — overheating is the classic cause of early failure.

  • Stop 03

    Fixture placement and torque reading

    Each implant is driven to a recorded insertion torque. That number decides whether a temporary can be loaded immediately or whether the site is left to integrate submerged.

  • Stop 04

    Closure and temporary

    Sutures go in, and a healing abutment or an immediate temporary is fitted depending on the torque reading and where the implant sits in the smile line.

  • Stop 05

    What is specific to this option

    A complete set of implants replacing every tooth in an arch, fixed or removable.

  • Stop 06

    Debrief and follow-up

    You leave with written aftercare and the follow-up schedule fixed — for this option that means 10-14 days, then 4-6 months for the final work, with 2-3 surgical stages in total.

Anaesthesia & duration

Implant placement is done under local anaesthetic infiltrated around the ridge; you stay awake, feel pressure and drilling vibration but no pain. IV sedation is offered for longer arch cases and for patients with a strong gag reflex.

Chair time runs roughly 20-30 minutes per fixture once the flap is open, so a single implant is a short appointment while a full arch typically occupies two to three hours including the temporary.

Who performs it

An oral surgeon or an implantologist places the fixtures; the prosthetic stage — abutment, scan, crown or arch — is usually handled by a prosthodontist working with the same in-house laboratory.

Right after the procedure

Expect gauze pressure for 30-45 minutes, a numb lip for two to four hours and a small amount of oozing on the first evening. You walk out unaided, but you should not fly the same day if a graft or sinus lift was involved.

Learn more

Cost and alternatives for Full Mouth Dental Implants.

Compare vs alternatives → See full cost breakdown →
FAQ

Procedure questions, answered

How long does full mouth treatment take end to end?

Typically 4-6 months across two trips, with a fixed temporary in between so you are never without teeth.

Is it done in one surgery?

Both arches can be placed in one session, but the prosthetic stages are always separate appointments.

What insertion torque did my implant reach?

Ask for the figure in Ncm. Above roughly 35 Ncm supports an immediate temporary; below that, the fixture is normally left to integrate before anything is loaded on it.

Which implant brand is being used?

Get the brand and reference in writing. A globally distributed system can be serviced by any dentist at home; an unbranded fixture often cannot.

Will I need a bone graft or sinus lift?

Only the CBCT answers this. If a graft is likely, ask whether it is quoted separately and how many extra months it adds before the final restoration.

How many visits does full mouth dental implants need in total?

2-3 surgical stages — and 10-14 days, then 4-6 months for the final work. Any quote that compresses that materially is worth a second read, because laboratory and healing time set the schedule, not the clinic diary.

How does this compare with the closest alternative?

All-on-4 or All-on-6 per arch is the usual cost-efficient route; implant dentures cut cost further but stay removable.

Recognise the signs

Signs it might be time to look into this.

01

Teeth are failing in both jaws

Once loss is bilateral, arch-level planning is cheaper than serial repairs.

02

You are facing multiple extractions

Extraction plans are the natural moment to decide what replaces them.

03

Repairs keep stacking up

Repeated crown and root canal spend often exceeds one definitive plan.

Specific to this option

Full Mouth Dental Implants: The Procedure, Step by Step: at a glance.

The real decision is fixed versus removable and how many fixtures per arch — the phrase covers everything from 8 implants to 12.

Sessions2-3 surgical stages
Time in Turkey10-14 days, then 4-6 months for the final work
Recovery2-3 weeks visible recovery; soft diet 8 weeks
Expected lifespanImplants 15-25 years; prosthetics serviced every 5-10

Closest alternative

All-on-4 or All-on-6 per arch is the usual cost-efficient route; implant dentures cut cost further but stay removable.

Related options

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See how recovery from full mouth dental implants works

Timeline, aftercare and what to watch for, day by day.

View recovery guide
In-depth guide

Full Mouth Dental Implants: the procedure in detail

The real decision is fixed versus removable and how many fixtures per arch — the phrase covers everything from 8 implants to 12. Chair time runs roughly 20-30 minutes per fixture once the flap is open, so a single implant is a short appointment while a full arch typically occupies two to three hours including the temporary.

What full mouth dental implants involves on the day

The real decision is fixed versus removable and how many fixtures per arch — the phrase covers everything from 8 implants to 12. Implant placement is done under local anaesthetic infiltrated around the ridge; you stay awake, feel pressure and drilling vibration but no pain. IV sedation is offered for longer arch cases and for patients with a strong gag reflex. Chair time runs roughly 20-30 minutes per fixture once the flap is open, so a single implant is a short appointment while a full arch typically occupies two to three hours including the temporary.

Who does the work

An oral surgeon or an implantologist places the fixtures; the prosthetic stage — abutment, scan, crown or arch — is usually handled by a prosthodontist working with the same in-house laboratory. Expect gauze pressure for 30-45 minutes, a numb lip for two to four hours and a small amount of oozing on the first evening. You walk out unaided, but you should not fly the same day if a graft or sinus lift was involved.

What to confirm before you book

  • A CBCT scan, not a panoramic X-ray, to measure bone height and width at each planned site
  • A list of blood thinners, bisphosphonates and diabetes medication sent to the surgeon in advance
  • Any active gum infection treated before the surgical date, not on the same visit
  • Confirmation of the implant brand and the abutment system in writing, so future servicing is possible anywhere

Schedule

2-3 surgical stages and 10-14 days, then 4-6 months for the final work are what the plan is built around. All-on-4 or All-on-6 per arch is the usual cost-efficient route; implant dentures cut cost further but stay removable.

This page is general educational information, not medical advice, and does not replace guidance from your treating clinician. Always follow the specific instructions given by your treating clinic, and contact them directly with any concerns about your individual case.
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