How long does All-on-4® take?
For patients who are suitable for immediate teeth replacement, fixed temporary teeth can often be fitted within one to three days of All-on-4® implant surgery. However, this does not mean the treatment is finished in a few days. The implants still need several months to integrate with the jawbone before the final teeth can be made. In many cases, the definitive teeth are fitted at around five months.
What does the All-on-4® treatment timeline look like?
A typical full-mouth implant timeline looks like this:
1. Consultation – Before surgery: Examination, discussion and assessment.
2. Diagnosis and planning – Before surgery: CBCT, photographs, scans and detailed treatment planning.
3. Implant surgery – Day 1: Remaining teeth may be removed and implants placed.
4. Temporary teeth trial – Day 2: Shape and shade of the temporary teeth are assessed.
5. Fixed temporary teeth – Day 2 to 3: Temporary bridge attached if immediate loading is suitable.
6. Early healing – First 2 weeks: Swelling settles and soft tissues heal.
7. Implant integration – Approximately 3 to 5 months: Bone gradually integrates with the implants.
8. Final planning – Around month 5: New records, scans and trials for the definitive teeth.
9. Final teeth – Around month 5 onward: Definitive restoration fitted.
10. Maintenance – Long term: Regular reviews, professional cleaning and daily home care.
This is a guide rather than a fixed schedule. Implant stability, bone quality, healing, existing dental conditions and the need for additional procedures can all affect the timeline.
When does the All-on-4® treatment timeline begin?
It begins with your initial consultation.
We assess your remaining teeth, gums, bite, facial appearance and general oral health. We also discuss what you want to achieve and whether replacing your teeth with a fixed implant-supported restoration is the right option for you.
Natural teeth that can be predictably saved should not automatically be removed just because All-on-4® sounds like an easier solution. Full-arch implant treatment is irreversible, so the decision to remove teeth needs to be made carefully.
What happens during All-on-4® treatment planning?
Pre-surgical planning will involve photographs, X-rays, a CBCT scan, digital scans, impressions and other records.
A CBCT scan allows us to assess the three-dimensional anatomy of your jaw, including the volume of available bone, and location of any vital structures such as nerves. We can then plan where the implants can be positioned and how they will support the replacement teeth.
Your temporary teeth are also planned before surgery. This is one of the reasons fixed teeth can be provided so quickly after implant placement. The temporary bridge is not being designed from scratch after surgery. Much of the planning and laboratory work has already taken place.
What happens on the day of All-on-4® surgery?
Following the planning phase, any teeth that need to be removed are extracted, the implants are placed, and, provided they are sufficiently stable, preparation for your temporary teeth begins.
Can everyone get fixed teeth immediately after All-on-4® surgery?
No. For immediate fixed teeth to be delivered within a few days of the surgery, the implants need to have sufficient initial stability. In our treatment protocol, we look for an initial stability of at least 35 Ncm to be able to proceed with immediate loading.
Implant stability can vary according to bone quality, anatomy and individual circumstances.
If an implant does not achieve the stability required to safely support a temporary bridge, fixed temporary teeth may not be appropriate, and you will have to wear removable dentures for 3-5 months until implants integrate and can support a bridge of teeth.
Whether or not you can get immediate fixed teeth straight after the surgery, depends on what we find during surgery rather than on a predetermined promise that you will receive fixed teeth on a particular day.
When do you get your temporary All-on-4® teeth?
For suitable patients, temporary fixed teeth are generally fitted within one to three days of surgery.
This is where terms such as “teeth in a day”, “teeth in three days” and “immediate full-mouth implants” come from. They describe how quickly temporary fixed teeth can be provided, rather than the completion of the entire treatment.
What happens after your temporary All-on-4® teeth are fitted?
Once your temporary teeth are fitted, the focus shifts from surgery to healing. During the first few days, you can expect some bruising and swelling, particularly around days two and three, which then gradually settles. You may also have some tenderness around the surgical sites. With the anti-inflammatory medication prescribed after surgery, most patients experience very little pain.
Your temporary teeth are fixed, but they need to be treated carefully. The implants underneath them are still integrating with the bone, so you will need to follow a soft diet (foods whish do not require chewing).
What can you eat after All-on-4® surgery?
This can be one of the more frustrating parts of the process because your new teeth may feel secure enough to chew normally. They are not yet ready for that.
A diet of soft or minced and mashed foods that can be swallowed with minimal chewing is essential during the early healing period. This reduces the forces placed on the implants while they integrate with the jawbone.
Your temporary teeth may feel strong, but the biological connection between the implants and your bone is still healing around the implants.
How long does it take for All-on-4® implants to heal?
The soft tissues begin healing within the first few weeks, but the implants generally take three to five months to integrate with the jawbone. This process is called osseointegration. New bone gradually forms around the implant surface, creating the stable foundation needed to support your final teeth.
The timing is not identical for everyone. Implant stability, bone quality, healing and any additional procedures can affect how long we need to wait.
What happens during the three to five month healing period?
You will have regular reviews while the implants are integrating. At these appointments, we assess the implants, gums, bite and temporary restoration. We also check that you are cleaning effectively and that everything is healing as expected.
These reviews are important because an implant problem is not always obvious to the patient. Regular monitoring allows us to identify changes early and intervene if necessary.
This period also gives you time to get used to your new bite, speech and appearance. Living with your temporary teeth for several months can reveal changes you may want to make to the shape, size or appearance of your final teeth.
When are the final All-on-4® teeth fitted?
Once the implants have integrated sufficiently, we begin planning the definitive restoration.
New scans or impressions are taken, and the position, shape, colour and bite of the final teeth are assessed. We may have one or several trials of the new teeth to make sure we are both happy with their appearance and function. For many patients, the final teeth are fitted at around five months.
What if an implant has not healed properly?
Not every implant follows the expected timeline. Occasionally, an implant may fail to integrate with the surrounding bone. If this occurs, we determine the appropriate next step.
This may involve allowing additional healing time, replacing an implant or modifying the treatment plan. This is one reason I don’t like promising patients an exact treatment duration before surgery. Implant treatment involves biology, and biology does not always follow a calendar.
The aim is to proceed to the final teeth when the implants are ready, rather than simply because a certain number of months has passed.
How do you look after All-on-4® implants?
All-on-4® can provide a long-term solution, but it is not maintenance-free. Daily cleaning and regular professional maintenance are essential for keeping the implants and surrounding tissues healthy. Your daily cleaning routine will include flossing around each implant for six seconds every day.
Regular examinations allow us to check the implants, gums, bite and prosthesis and identify problems before they become more significant. Your final teeth may be fixed, but looking after the implants is a lifelong responsibility.
What is the typical All-on-4® timeline from start to finish?
For a patient who is suitable for immediate loading temporary teeth and whose healing progresses normally, the process can be summarised simply:
Before treatment: Consultation, examination, CBCT, scans and detailed planning.
Day 1: Teeth are removed where necessary and implants are placed.
Day 2 to 3: Temporary fixed teeth are fitted if the implants have sufficient initial stability.
First two weeks: Swelling settles and the soft tissues heal.
Months 1 to 5: The implants integrate with the jawbone while you wear and care for your temporary teeth.
Around month 5: The implants are assessed and planning for the final teeth begins.
Around month 5 onward: The definitive teeth are fitted.
Long term: Regular maintenance and professional reviews continue.
Conclusion: How long does All-on-4® really take?
All-on-4® can give suitable patients fixed temporary teeth within a few days, but the complete treatment takes several months. The first few days are about replacing your teeth.
The following three to five months are about allowing your implants to integrate with your jawbone. Once they are stable and healthy, your final teeth can be made and fitted. So while you may have a new smile within days, the treatment itself is a staged process that continues for several months.
That is why I believe the best All-on-4® treatment is not necessarily the fastest. It is the treatment that gives your implants the time they need to heal and gives you a result that you can look after for many years.
*All-on-4® is a registered trademark of Nobel Biocare.
Its use here is for informational purposes only and does not imply affiliation, sponsorship, or that we use Nobel Biocare products.
**T&C’s Apply.
