Why do dental implants usually need two trips?
An implant is placed in the jawbone, and the bone then grows onto its surface, a process called osseointegration. Only after that can the implant carry a permanent crown, bridge or denture. Sources give similar healing times:
- Cleveland Clinic says it can take anywhere from three to nine months, depending on how quickly your body heals.
- Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust says you usually need to wait at least three months before the implant can support replacement teeth.
- Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust gives three to six months, adding that it can be longer.
For international patients, treatment is therefore usually split into two trips: one to place the implants and one, several months later, to fit the final teeth. A tooth fitted on the day of surgery does not shorten the healing time; our guide to same-day dental implants explains why.
What happens on the first trip, and how long does it take?
On the day you arrive, our driver meets you at one of Istanbul’s airports and takes you to partner bungalow accommodation in Sapanca. Depending on the airport and traffic, the drive usually takes 1.5 to 2 hours. You usually rest that day, and your examination at our clinic in Serdivan takes place the next day. On treatment days, we also take you between your accommodation and the clinic.
The first trip then covers:
- an examination and a cone-beam CT (CBCT) scan, a 3D image of the jaw
- a discussion of your final treatment plan
- placement of the implants under local anaesthetic
- a check of the surgical area before you fly home
As a general guide, our dental implants page gives around five to seven days for this trip. Cleveland Clinic says the first round of healing takes about a week and that slight discomfort and swelling after surgery are normal. Ask whether your stitches dissolve or need removing: Guy’s and St Thomas’ arranges stitch removal 7 to 14 days after treatment, which may fall after your flight home.
What happens on the second trip?
Once the implants have bonded with the bone, you come back for the final teeth. Guy’s and St Thomas’ explains that implants buried under the gum need another small surgical procedure before they can be used, and that several appointments are needed to make the replacement teeth. On the second trip:
- the implants are uncovered, if needed
- digital scans of the healed implants are taken
- the final crowns, bridge or denture are tried in and fitted
- your bite is checked and adjusted
Our dental implants page gives a similar period for the second trip as for the first. Leave a spare day before your flight home in case a final adjustment is needed.
What can make your stay longer?
Your stay, or the number of trips, can grow when:
- Teeth need to be removed: depending on the bone, an implant can sometimes be placed in the same operation as the extraction. Otherwise the site heals first. An International Team for Implantology (ITI) consensus report describes early placement typically 4 to 8 weeks after extraction, once the gum has covered the socket, or 12 to 16 weeks after, once the socket has largely filled with bone. That can mean an extra trip.
- Bone grafting is needed: bone is sometimes added at the same time as the implant and sometimes before it. Cleveland Clinic says a graft needs at least three months to heal, and a large graft may take nine to 12 months; Guy’s and St Thomas’ says a graft might add four to six months to treatment.
- A sinus lift is needed: Cambridge University Hospitals gives six to 12 months, sometimes longer, from a sinus lift to the final teeth, and advises not blowing your nose for two weeks afterwards.
- A whole jaw is treated: for fixed teeth on four or six implants, our full-arch implants page gives around seven to ten days for each trip as a general guide.
- Several implants or both jaws are treated: more surgery and more fittings mean more appointments.
We carry out bone grafting and sinus lifts at our clinic. Whether you need either is shown by the examination and the CBCT scan.
When can you fly home after implant surgery?
Ask your dentist before you book your return flight. The NHS advises staying in the country of treatment for a suitable length of time to recover before travelling home.
Research on flying after dental treatment is limited. A 2023 article in the British Dental Journal by Felkai and colleagues notes that most of it comes from military aircrew, and offers guiding principles as a starting point for the dentist’s decision. Provided there is no pain, swelling or bleeding, it suggests waiting at least 72 hours after uncomplicated implant placement and at least two weeks after more complex procedures such as a sinus lift or bone graft. Its recommended intervals are longer: one week after most dental treatment and six weeks after a sinus lift.
After a routine implant placement, many patients can fly home within a few days; after bone grafting or a procedure near the sinus, your dentist may advise waiting longer. Avoid planning a long journey on the day of surgery.
What can you do before you travel?
Much of the planning can start from home:
- Send clear photos of your teeth and any existing X-rays, such as a panoramic X-ray (OPG) or a 3D scan, on WhatsApp to +90 532 363 49 54 for a preliminary assessment.
- Share your medical history and a list of your medicines. Cleveland Clinic notes that some medicines, for example for certain autoimmune conditions, may increase the risk of complications during healing.
- If you smoke, ask about stopping: Cambridge University Hospitals reports a much higher failure rate in smokers.
- Tell your own dentist about your plans. The General Dental Council recommends this, partly so that they are aware in case of later complications.
- Book flights once your appointments are confirmed, ideally with a flexible return ticket.
A preliminary assessment is not a diagnosis. The General Dental Council advises that you should always be assessed by a qualified dentist before being given a treatment plan. For the same reason, your dates are confirmed after the examination.
What happens between the trips and once you are home?
Depending on your case, a temporary tooth can be fitted for the healing months. You can send photos and questions on WhatsApp, and should let us know if anything changes, for example if the gum around an implant becomes sore or a temporary tooth comes loose.
After the second trip, routine care can take place close to home: Cambridge University Hospitals advises seeing your local dentist or hygienist every three to six months over the long term. You leave with a copy of your treatment summary and copies of your X-rays. The make and model of your implants are in your written treatment plan. You also receive an implant card carrying the manufacturer’s official label for each implant, with details such as its diameter, length and batch number, and a QR code for checking that it is genuine. Our pages on aftercare and follow-up and caring for teeth on implants explain more.
How do we plan implant trips at Rönesans?
Implant planning at our clinic starts with an in-person examination and a CBCT scan. Our dentists review your case together, and your dentist explains the plan, the number of trips and the appointments on each. Before treatment starts, you receive a written treatment and cost plan. We plan the appointments around your travel dates. The clinic is open Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 22:00 and on Saturday from 10:00 to 19:00, Türkiye time, and is closed on Sundays and on the days of Ramazan Bayramı and Kurban Bayramı.
You can send photos and X-rays on WhatsApp at +90 532 363 49 54 or call our landline on +90 264 606 09 43. During opening hours we reply to messages in English and German within 15 minutes. How a stay is organised is described on planning your visit.