Full-arch implants step by step: how many trips, and what happens on each?

How long does full-arch treatment take from start to finish?

Most of the time passes between appointments, while the implants bond with the jawbone; the final bridge is made after that. Cleveland Clinic gives about three to six months with implants supporting a full denture, longer after bone grafting; the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) gives two to six months for full-mouth implants. A Cochrane review notes that, in the conventional approach, implants are kept without load for three to eight months.

For international patients this usually means two trips; our full-arch implants page gives a healing period at home of commonly around three to six months. Your own timeline is set after the examination.

For single implants, see how many days in Türkiye for dental implants.

What happens on the first trip, appointment by appointment?

1. Arrival: our driver meets you at an Istanbul airport and takes you to partner bungalow accommodation in Sapanca, usually a 1.5 to 2-hour drive. You usually rest that day.
2. Examination and CBCT scan: the next day, at our clinic in Serdivan. Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust says a cone-beam CT scan takes about 15 minutes and helps decide whether implants are suitable. The International Team for Implantology (ITI) recommends considering the final bridge when planning surgery, so implants, extractions and any grafting are discussed together. For older patients, see full-arch implants in later life.
3. Surgery: any failing teeth are removed and the implants placed under local anaesthetic, in the same operation or later (see below). The AAP describes how temporary teeth may be worn over the implant sites, or a healing cap screwed onto each implant, before the gum is stitched.
4. Temporary teeth: whether you wear a temporary bridge fixed to the implants or a removable temporary denture depends on how firmly the bone holds the implants; the ITI requires each implant’s stability to be confirmed before immediate loading. This is decided during treatment and cannot be promised in advance; see temporary teeth with full-arch implants and same-day dental implants.
5. Check before you fly: the surgical area and temporary teeth are checked. As a general guide, our full-arch page gives around seven to ten days per trip.

On treatment days, we take you between your accommodation and the clinic. Ask before booking your return flight; a 2023 British Dental Journal article by Felkai and colleagues suggests at least 72 hours after uncomplicated implant placement and at least two weeks after a sinus lift or bone graft, while noting that research is limited.

What if teeth need removing or bone needs building up?

An ITI consensus report (Hämmerle and colleagues, 2004) describes placing implants in the same operation as the extraction, or after healing: typically 4 to 8 weeks later, once the gum covers the socket, or 12 to 16 weeks, once it has largely filled with bone. At Leeds Teaching Hospitals, extractions are often done 6 to 10 weeks before implant surgery. For a traveller, such a gap can mean an extra trip.

• Bone grafting: Cleveland Clinic says a graft needs at least three months to heal, and a large graft nine to 12 months; Guy’s and St Thomas’ says grafting may add four to six months.
• Sinus lift: Cambridge University Hospitals gives six to 12 months, sometimes longer, from a sinus lift to the final teeth, although an implant can sometimes be placed at the same time.

The ITI regards bone augmentation or a sinus lift in the same session as a relative contraindication to immediate loading.

What happens at home between the two trips?

• Stitches: the AAP says sutures are removed in seven to ten days, possibly after your flight home; ask who will remove yours.
• Temporary teeth: Leeds Teaching Hospitals explains that bone and gum change shape after extractions, fastest in the first few months. For removable dentures fitted straight after extractions, it describes a review a few days after fitting, further adjustments as needed, and advises not waiting more than six months to see a dentist. A local dentist can check the fit.
• Staying in touch: the NHS treatment abroad checklist advises being clear about how your aftercare will be coordinated. Send us photos on WhatsApp if anything changes; see aftercare and follow-up.

What happens on the second trip?

1. Uncovering, if needed: Guy’s and St Thomas’ explains that implants buried under the gum need another small procedure before they can be used, and the AAP describes letting the gums heal for a couple of weeks after it. Ask in advance whether this applies to you.
2. Scans: Cleveland Clinic describes impressions being taken once the implants have healed and sent to a laboratory, where the final prosthesis is made.
3. Try-ins: sources give no fixed number. Guy’s and St Thomas’ says several appointments are needed to make replacement teeth, and Leeds describes several visits a few weeks apart for fixed bridges. How many try-ins you need is planned at the examination.
4. Fitting and bite adjustments: the Oral Health Foundation notes that crowns, bridges and implants are not easily carried out rapidly, and that a good bite can need repeat visits and a series of adjustments. Leave a spare day before your flight.

Before you leave, you receive copies of your treatment summary and X-rays, and an implant card with the manufacturer’s official label for each implant and a QR code to check it is genuine.

What can make the timeline longer?

• Extractions, grafting or a sinus lift: as described above.
• The extent of the plan: the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID) says timing depends on the number and type of implants and replacement teeth, and our full-arch page notes that plans differ when both jaws are treated.
• Smoking: Cleveland Clinic says it can disrupt healing; Cambridge University Hospitals reports a much greater failure rate in smokers.
• General health: Cleveland Clinic lists unmanaged diabetes among conditions affecting suitability, and notes that some autoimmune medicines may increase complications during healing.
• Your dates: the clinic is closed on Sundays and on the days of Ramazan Bayramı and Kurban Bayramı.

How are check-ups handled after the final bridge?

Cambridge University Hospitals advises seeing your local dentist or hygienist every three to six months over the long term. Your treatment plan names the make and model of your implants, so another dentist knows which system was used. Daily care is covered in caring for teeth on implants.

How is a full-arch treatment timeline planned at Rönesans?

We provide fixed full-arch bridges on four or six implants. Planning starts with an in-person examination and CBCT scan at our clinic in Serdivan, Sakarya; the plan, any extra procedures, and the trips and appointments involved are set out after that. Bone grafting, sinus lifts and other oral surgery are carried out at our clinic, and treatment can be done under general anaesthesia when needed. Temporary teeth are fitted during healing depending on the case. Impressions for the final bridge can be taken with an intraoral scanner, and bridges are made with CAD/CAM at the dental laboratory we work with.

Before treatment starts, you know which dentist will treat you and receive a written treatment and cost plan with unit and total costs; the cost is confirmed after the examination. We plan the appointments around your travel dates, and airport transfer and accommodation are included in the treatment fee. Follow-up after treatment follows a defined process.

We are open Monday to Friday 10:00–22:00 and Saturday 10:00–19:00, Türkiye time. Send photos and X-rays on WhatsApp at +90 532 363 49 54, call our head office on +90 264 606 09 43 or use our contact page; during opening hours we reply in English and German within 15 minutes. See also planning your visit.