The number of trips you need is decided mainly by one question: can the implant carry a tooth straight away, or does it need to heal first?
Three loading protocols
| Protocol | When teeth are fitted | Typical trips |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional (delayed) | After the implant has healed, usually a few months | Two |
| Early | After a shorter healing period | Often two |
| Immediate | Within days of surgery (a temporary tooth or bridge); the final teeth after healing | Two, but you are never without fixed teeth |
What the research shows
A Cochrane review found that immediate or early loading can succeed in selected patients, and that results depend on the clinician's experience (Cochrane, Esposito et al.). A 2019 meta-analysis of randomised trials in patients without teeth, treated with fixed bridges, found similar implant and bridge survival for immediate, early and conventional loading, above 99% at one year (J Prosthet Dent 201930343-9/fulltext)).
Who can have teeth the same day
- Enough good-quality bone to hold the implant firmly on the day ("primary stability"). Surgeons often look for an insertion torque of about 30–35 Ncm or more (review).
- No major grafting needed at the same time. A graft can often go in with the implant, but the tooth then usually waits for healing.
- Full-arch cases are the most common: four or six implants are splinted together by one bridge, which spreads the load.
- Healthy habits during healing: soft foods and, ideally, no smoking.
What this means for your trips
| Your case | Most likely plan |
|---|---|
| Full arch, good bone | Trip 1, about 7–14 days at Sterling: implants and a fixed temporary bridge. Trip 2, about 3–6 months later: the final bridge, about two weeks |
| Full arch, less bone | Trip 1, about 7–14 days: implants, and a removable denture while they heal if a fixed bridge is not safe on the day. Trip 2, about 3–6 months later: the final bridge, about two weeks |
| Single implant | Usually two trips: placement, then the crown after healing |
| Front tooth, good bone | Sometimes a temporary tooth on the day, final crown on a second trip |
| Bone graft or sinus lift needed | Often done with the implant, with no extra trip; if the implant has to wait for the graft to heal, it is placed at a later stage (why) |
Send your scan first and you will know which applies before you book: virtual consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get dental implants in one trip?+
Most cases need two. With immediate loading, full-arch patients with good bone leave the first trip (about 7–14 days) with fixed temporary teeth, then return about 3–6 months later for the final bridge. Single implants usually need two trips as well.
Is immediate loading as safe as waiting?+
In carefully selected patients, trials show similar survival. The decision depends on how firmly each implant is held in the bone on the day of surgery.
What is primary stability?+
How firmly an implant is held in the bone when it is placed. Surgeons measure it, often by insertion torque, before deciding to fit teeth immediately.
Sources
- Cochrane review: different times of loading dental implants (Esposito et al.) (accessed 28 September 2026)
- Immediate vs early vs conventional loading with fixed prostheses: meta-analysis of RCTs, J Prosthet Dent 2019 (accessed 28 September 2026)
- Insertion torque and primary stability for immediate loading (review) (accessed 28 September 2026)
This guide is general information, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. Whether implants suit you, and what they will cost, depends on a clinical examination and 3D scan. Prices are indicative and are confirmed in writing before any treatment.