Dental Implant Process Step by Step

The dental implant process consists of multiple stages, involving pre-treatment diagnostics, preparatory procedures, implant post placement, healing, and fitting a final restoration. The timing of these stages depends on the patient’s case, oral health, bone condition, and established treatment plan.

UK patients who want to have implants in Turkey often require additional planning, such as how pre-treatment check-ups and post-surgery aftercare are organised. This guide helps answer this question for patients planning a dental implant treatment at Perla Dental Clinics.

Dental Implant Process Step by Step

Table of Contents

What Is the Dental Implant Process?

The dental implant process is the entire set of consultations, check-ups, and procedures necessary for restoring missing teeth with dental implants.

It consists of several dental implant stages, required to place the implant post, abutment, and crown, which are the typical components of a full implant system.

The precise steps of the implant process are planned before surgery. This is required because each patient’s case is different, and the treatment specifics and the need for supplementary procedures are established on a case-by-case basis.

Process at a glance:

  • Assessment
  • Treatment planning
  • Implant placement
  • Healing and osseointegration
  • Fitting final restoration

For most UK patients, dental implant treatment in Turkey is performed over two visits. Patients return home for the healing and osseointegration stages, which take several months.

Dental Implant Procedure Step by Step

The dental implant treatment has several stages. It starts from dental examinations, scans, and suitability checks, followed by the actual surgery, recovery, and placement of final restorations.

Step 1 - Consultation and Suitability Check

Pre-treatment consultation examines the patient’s dental history, as well as available X-rays and other dental scans. This helps evaluate gum and bone health, whose condition influences treatment planning and patient suitability for implants.

International patients receive a preliminary written treatment plan before they travel to Turkey, which helps confirm planned treatment stages and the likely visit timeline. An in-clinic consultation and dental check-up are performed after the patient arrives in Turkey to confirm patient suitability and finalise the treatment details.

Step 2 - Treatment Planning and Scans

A safe implant treatment plan requires detailed surgical information about the patient’s jawbone, nerves, and sinus positions. We use CBCT to create a 3D model of the patient’s oral anatomy. The model helps find safe implant sites for a planned dental prosthesis.

Step 3 - Preparation Before Implant Placement

Some patients may require additional preparation before implant surgery, such as bone grafts, sinus lifts, or tooth extraction. Which procedures are required and how they influence the treatment timeline depend on the personal case.

This implant treatment stage is not required for all patients. It is performed to free space for a planned prosthesis, such as a full-arch bridge, or to ensure implant safety. Minor preparations may be performed at the same time as the implant surgery.

Step 4 - Implant Placement Surgery

This is the stage when the implant fixture is placed into the jawbone. The surgery is performed under anaesthesia. The precise type of anaesthesia used depends on the patient’s needs.

Implant surgery can be done in several ways: two-stage, one-stage, or immediate-loading. The implant specialist determines which one to use based on the patient’s bone and gum health.

Step 5 - Healing and Osseointegration

Healing and osseointegration take several months. Osseointegration is the process of an implant fusing with the bone, creating a direct structural connection. An implant needs it to be able to support the final restoration.

A provisional restoration may be fitted onto the implant so that the patient is not without teeth during recovery.

Step 6 - Abutment and Final Crown

The implant post is not the visible part of the artificial tooth, but is better thought of as an artificial tooth root. It requires a separate restoration, called a dental prosthesis, to be functional. This can be a crown, a bridge, or a denture.

The final restoration is connected to the implant fixture using an abutment, a separate component between the implant post and the dental prosthesis.

Consultation, Scans and a Written Treatment Plan

An initial dental implant consultation is an important part of the treatment. It results in a treatment plan that helps confirm the patient’s eligibility, establish treatment stages and likely visits. It can clarify aspects that may change before the patient travels to the clinic for dental implant treatment in Turkey.

Before confirming treatment:

  • Obtain a written treatment plan.
  • Ask for an itemised treatment quote.
  • Confirm travel logistics details.
Consultation with doctor at Perla Dental Clinics Antalya Turkey

International patients should obtain a written dental implant treatment plan. It should include the proposed treatment roadmap, its price, and the number of required visits.

The treatment details are confirmed at the clinic after a detailed dental scan. These scans will help dentists determine the patient’s current jawbone health and map implant placement.

Get in touch with us for an online consultation and implant eligibility assessment. We can provide you with a treatment plan and personalised quote based on general photos and panoramic X-ray.

Tooth Extraction, Bone Grafting and Other Preparation

Some patients require tooth extraction or bone grafting before a dental implant can be placed. These procedures are needed when the patient’s existing teeth or jawbone condition prevents safe or reliable implant placement. Tooth extraction is also performed if an implant is planned to replace a damaged tooth.

Our dental practice aims to place implants immediately after tooth extraction. Minor bone grafts and sinus lifts can also be performed during the implant surgery and do not change the dental implant timeline. You can read more about dental bone grafts in our article.

How Is a Tooth Extracted

When preparatory procedures may be required

No prep neededExtraction neededGrafting may be needed
The patient's gums and jawbone are healthy and have suitable dimensions for implants.The patient wants to replace a damaged tooth with an implant.The jawbone's density or dimensions are insufficient to provide the necessary support for implant posts
No existing teeth interfere with planned implants.Existing teeth interfere with planned restoration, such as a full-arch bridge.

Dental Implant Surgery and Placement

During dental implant surgery, the implant specialist places the implant post into the jaw. The detailed procedure of dental implant placement depends on the implant type.

Most implants are placed under local anaesthesia. Our clinic also offers sedation for patients with high anxiety. Some implants, such as zygomatic implants, require a more major surgery to place and use general anaesthesia. You can learn more about expected dental implant pain here.

Whether stitches are used after the surgery depends on the implant placement method and whether additional procedures were performed. Dissolvable stitches are used in most cases where stitching is required.

Dental Implant Surgery and Placement

Healing, Osseointegration and Temporary Teeth

The dental implant healing period allows the implant post to connect with the jawbone, creating a strong, stable foundation that can withstand normal biting forces. This process, called osseointegration, is necessary for treatment success and takes 3-6 months, depending on the case. The patient’s gums and jawbone also heal during this period.

Our clinic aims to provide temporary teeth whenever possible. These are made from acrylic-based resin. Temporary teeth are replaced with final crowns during the second visit to Turkey. International patients do not need to return to the clinic for healing checks after a dental implant treatment in Turkey. We provide remote post-treatment support via WhatsApp.

Temporary Teeth after dental implant treatment

Patients generally need to follow a soft-food diet during the initial recovery. Physical exertion should also be limited for the few days after surgery. How long these restrictions apply depends on the case and the treatment scale.

What happens during the recovery period:

  • The patient’s gums and jawbone heal.
  • The patient can gradually transition from an entirely soft-food diet to eating more solid foods.
  • The implant post integrates with the jawbone.

Abutment, Final Crown and Final Restoration

The final treatment stage involves connecting the implant post to a dental implant abutment and the final restoration. This can be a crown, a bridge, or a denture. An abutment is a separate piece used to connect the final restoration to the implant post.

This treatment stage is performed after the implant is healed. The exact timing depends on the condition of the bone after implant surgery.

Although temporary dental implant crowns are made of resin, final crowns can be made of different materials. Options include dental porcelain, zirconia, and E-max. Which one is chosen depends on tooth location and patient preferences. Our ‘Types of dental implants’ page explores available implant options in more detail.

Abutment, Final Crown and Final Restoration

How Long Does It Take to Get Dental Implants?

Dental implant treatment can take several months because it is conducted in stages, and implants require a lengthy recovery to integrate with the bone. The precise dental implant timeline depends on the patient’s initial condition, the scope of the treatment, and the need for additional procedures.

International patients usually require two visits to Turkey for implants. The first visit can last 3–5 days, and the second can last 5–6 days. They are separated by a recovery period lasting 3 to 6 months.

StageWhat happensWhy it mattersTiming note
Consultation & treatment planningPatient receives a treatment plan suitable for the individual case.Required for a safe and seamless treatment.An initial consultation is performed before treatment.
Preparatory proceduresTooth extraction & bone grafts, as requiredPrepares the implant sites for the surgeryMinor bone grafts and tooth extraction may be done during implant surgery. Sinus lifting takes around 30 minutes per sinus.
Implant placementPlacement of implant posts & temporary teethCreates a foundation for future permanent restorationsTemporary teeth are fitted around 2-3 days after surgery. A full stay can last 3-5 days
RecoveryHealing and implant integration with the jawboneAllow the implant posts to form a stable connection with the jawboneMay take 3-6 months.
Placing abutment and final restorationReplacement of temporary teeth with final crowns or bridges.Replaces the provisional prostheses with more durable & aesthetic final ones.The check-ups and final crown placement and fitting may require 5-6 days.

Planning Dental Implant Treatment in Turkey

UK and international patients should understand the expected treatment stages, timeline, and aftercare plan before dental implant treatment in Turkey. Clarifying key details about the necessary procedures and post-surgery care will help make the treatment more seamless.

Confirm these aspects before travel:

  • Necessary dental scans
  • Written treatment plan
  • Treatment quote
  • Treatment visit schedule
  • Inclusion of temporary teeth
  • Aftercare contact details

This will help confirm basic details about treatment and necessary procedures, such as the number of implants required, their cost, and the dental implant travel timeline.

You can learn more about implant safety and clinic choice in our ‘dental implant safety in Turkey’ article.

Request a personalised dental implant assessment at Perla Dental Clinics to learn more about our implants and start planning your dental implant treatment. As a HealthTürkiye-affiliated clinic certified by the Turkish Ministry of Health, we provide a written personal treatment plan and quote, as well as a dedicated coordinator for remote aftercare support after implant surgery.

Aftercare and Looking After Your Dental Implant

Following the dentist’s aftercare advice after dental implant surgery can help protect the implants and tissue as they heal. Keeping the implant site clean is also important during recovery.

The precise written post-operative instructions for the patient’s case are provided after the dental implant treatment in Turkey.  However, some general points are broadly applicable to all implants and are listed below:

Care advice for initial recovery:

  • Expect some bleeding and swelling. Follow the dentist’s instructions to mitigate them.
  • Avoid physical exertion.
  • Follow a liquid and then a soft-food diet.
  • Take all prescribed medication.
  • For the first days of recovery, avoid brushing near the implant site. Rinse your mouth as instructed by the dentist.

Long-term care:

  • Get regular dental appointments to monitor your dental health.
  • Follow a regular oral care routine while paying close attention to cleaning interdental spaces.
  • Avoid hard foods that can damage your dental restorations, if possible. Do not bite into them with implants if you do eat them.
  • Wear a nightguard during sleep if recommended by the dentist. This can protect your restored teeth from damage caused by bruxism.

Contact the clinic if you experience any unusual or worrying symptoms. We offer consultations via WhatsApp as part of our aftercare support policy. Your treatment coordinator will help you address post-treatment concerns.

Who Is Suitable for Dental Implants?

Dental implant suitability is determined based on a professional assessment of the patient’s case.

The dentist may check:

  • General oral health
  • Jawbone condition and dimensions
  • Medical history
  • Nicotine habits (smoking, etc.)
  • Medications that can influence post-surgery recovery

Some dental implant risks can be mitigated with preparatory procedures performed during or before a dental implant treatment in Turkey.

Dental Implant Process FAQs

Is the Dental Implant Process Painful?

Dental implant treatment is usually planned to be performed under local anaesthesia or other types of comfort support. Which option is chosen depends on the patient’s personal case and needs. You can learn more on our “Do Dental Implants Hurt?” page.

Will I Have No Teeth While Waiting for Implants?

Patients can use provisional crowns or bridges during healing. The type of temporary teeth and whether they can be used depends on the treatment plan. Provisional prostheses are replaced with final ones at the end of the treatment.

Can Dental Implants Be Done Faster or in One Day?

Same-day implants are possible for some cases. They require good bone support and oral health. Whether the patient is suitable for them also depends on the type of implant treatment and the dentist’s assessment.

Do I Always Need a Bone Graft Before Dental Implants?

A bone graft is not required for every patient. This depends on the patient’s jawbone density and volume, as well as implant position. Minor bone grafts can sometimes be done during the implant surgery. You can find more details on our bone graft page.

Review by Onur Ademhan

Medically reviewed by:

Dr. Onur Ademhan

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon

Founder and CEO of Perla Dental Clinics. Graduated from Ankara University Faculty of Dentistry and specialized in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Gazi University.

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