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Dental Implant Timeline Calculator

How long does a dental implant take? Enter where you're starting, any bone graft and the timing your dentist plans. You'll see every step with real dates, from the extraction to the final crown, using published ITI consensus ranges.

Example shown. Enter your own date and plan.
Where are you starting?

Stays on this device. Nothing is sent anywhere.

A separate graft means a ridge or block graft in its own surgery. Not sure? Ask your surgeon; not everyone needs one.

Typical times from the ITI consensus. Ask your surgeon which one they plan.

When the tooth goes on the implant
Which jaw?

Only changes the conventional wait: classically 3–4 months in the lower jaw and 6–8 months in the upper jaw.

Start to tooth on the implant

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Where you are now

Your timeline

    What can change this

      Typical ranges from published guidance, not a prediction for your mouth. Your surgeon's plan comes first.

      How long does a dental implant take?

      A dental implant usually takes about 2 months to more than a year from start to finished tooth. Most of it is healing time. Published totals differ: Guy's and St Thomas' NHS says treatment could take 6 to 12 months, and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS says it's usually at least a year.

      Your pathStart to a tooth on the implant
      Healed gap, no graft, early loading6–8 weeks after implant surgery
      Tooth out, implant at 4–8 weeks, early loading10–16 weeks
      Same-day implant with a temporary toothTemporary within a week; final crown at about 3–9 months
      Tooth out, implant at 12–16 weeks, conventional loading6–12 months
      Socket graft, implant at 4–6 months, conventional loading7–14 months
      Separate bone graft or sinus lift first, conventional loading7–20 months after the graft

      Implant stages explained

      The ADA describes three phases: the implant goes into the jaw, the bone heals around it, and then the new tooth is attached. The full timeline:

      1. Assessment and planning.
      2. Extraction, if the tooth is still there.
      3. Bone graft or sinus lift, only if there isn't enough bone.
      4. Implant surgery. Placing one implant usually takes about half an hour under local anesthetic; more implants take longer (Cambridge University Hospitals NHS).
      5. Healing. The first round of healing takes about a week. Dissolving stitches can take several weeks to disappear. The bone takes months.
      6. The tooth goes on. A connector (the abutment) is attached, then a crown, bridge or denture. The abutment step takes about an hour and sometimes a small second surgery (Cleveland Clinic).

      Osseointegration in plain words: bone grows right up against the implant's surface until the implant is locked into the jaw. Cleveland Clinic says this takes about 3 to 9 months. The classic approach keeps chewing forces off the implant during this time (Cochrane 2013), but many implants now get a tooth sooner.

      How many visits? Guy's and St Thomas' NHS describes 3 or 4 stages, and each can need several visits. Expect a check about a week after surgery. Some implants need a short procedure to uncover them before the tooth goes on (Cambridge University Hospitals NHS).

      How long after an extraction can you get an implant?

      Anywhere from the same day to 4 months or more. The International Team for Implantology (ITI) consensus sorts implant timing into four types by how far the socket has healed:

      ITI typeTypical time after extractionWhat has healed
      Type 1, immediateSame dayNothing yet
      Type 2, early4–8 weeksGum has closed over the socket
      Type 3, early12–16 weeksBone has partly filled the socket
      Type 4, lateMore than 16 weeksThe site has fully healed

      These are typical times, not rules, and sources disagree a little: a 2021 ITI blog article uses 8–12 weeks for type 2 and more than 6 months for late placement.

      Waiting longer isn't free. In the 6 months after an extraction, the jaw ridge shrinks by an average of 3.8 mm in width and 1.24 mm in height (Osteology consensus 2012).

      Can you get an implant the same day as an extraction?

      Sometimes. "Same day" can mean two different things:

      • Immediate placement: the implant goes into the socket at the extraction visit (ITI type 1).
      • Immediate loading: a tooth, often a temporary one, goes on the implant within a week.

      "Teeth in a day" usually means both. A same-day implant fits best when:

      • There's enough bone to hold the implant firmly right away.
      • The thin bone wall on the cheek side of the socket is intact. If it's damaged, a graft and a later implant are recommended instead (ITI 2004).
      • The tooth is a premolar where looks matter less and the anatomy is good (Osteology consensus 2012). For upper front teeth, the gum line pulled back by more than 1 mm at a median of 26% of same-day implant sites, versus none in two studies of early placement (Chen & Buser 2014).

      The ITI calls immediate loading a valid option for lower back teeth and front teeth in skilled hands, but found too little evidence for upper back teeth when only some teeth are missing. For a whole jaw of missing teeth, it supports immediate loading of fixed teeth in suitable cases. A same-surgery graft, a sinus lift, grinding or an implant that isn't firm enough point to the conventional wait (ITI 2009).

      How long after a bone graft can you get an implant?

      Usually 4 to 12 months, depending on the graft:

      GraftWait before the implant
      Socket graft when the tooth comes outAt least 4 months; implants went in at 4–6 months in reported cases (Kim & Ku 2020)
      Separate ridge or block graft4–12 months (AAP)
      Sinus lift4–12 months (AAP)
      Large graft9–12 months to heal (Cleveland Clinic)

      Cleveland Clinic says any graft needs at least 3 months, and advises getting the implant within 6 to 12 months once it has healed, before the new bone starts to shrink. Sometimes the implant goes in during the graft surgery itself (AAP); then the ITI recommends the conventional wait.

      Why some implants take longer

      • Grafts add at least 4 months, according to Cambridge University Hospitals NHS.
      • Smoking or vaping can slow healing (ADA; Cleveland Clinic). One NHS hospital expects smokers to quit at least 6 months before treatment.
      • Diabetes and other chronic illnesses can interfere with healing (ADA).
      • The upper jaw classically needed 6–8 months of healing, versus 3–4 months in the lower jaw (Cochrane 2013).
      • A loose start or teeth grinding usually means the conventional wait (ITI 2009).

      Comparing an implant with a bridge or denture? The Tooth Replacement Cost Comparison adds up the long-term cost, and How Long Does Dental Work Last? covers lifespans. For eating after surgery, see When Can I Eat After Dental Work?

      How this tool works

      1. Day 0 is your date: the extraction, or your first surgery if the gap has already healed.
      2. Each step adds a published range. The earliest date adds the shortest time for every step, and the latest date adds the longest. Months are calendar months, so October 31 plus 4 months is February 28.
      3. The ranges are the ones in the tables above, with late placement shown as week 16 to month 6 "or later". For loading, the ITI defines immediate as within 1 week, early as 1 week to 2 months (we use its routine 6–8 weeks) and conventional as more than 2 months (we use Cochrane's 3–8 months, or 3–4 lower and 6–8 upper). After a temporary tooth, the final crown uses Cleveland Clinic's 3–9 months.
      4. One assumption: after an extraction followed by a separate graft, the graft date uses the same socket-healing stages. Your surgeon sets the real date.
      5. The evidence label comes from the ITI's 2018 review of placement and loading combinations in people missing some teeth. Survival was 96.0% to 100% in every combination with data.

      Limits: the range is wide on purpose, because it adds all the shortest and all the longest times. It isn't a prediction for your mouth; your surgeon's plan comes first. Share links carry your choices and the days since your start date, never the date.

      Frequently asked questions

      How long does dental implant surgery take?
      Placing a single implant usually takes about half an hour under local anesthetic, and more implants take longer (Cambridge University Hospitals NHS). An extraction or bone graft in the same visit adds time. Attaching the abutment later takes about an hour and sometimes a small second surgery (Cleveland Clinic).
      How many visits does a dental implant take?
      Usually several. Guy's and St Thomas' NHS describes 3 or 4 stages (assessment, a bone graft if needed, implant surgery, then the tooth), and each stage can need more than one visit. Expect a check about a week after surgery. Some implants also need a short second procedure to uncover them. A few people get the implant and teeth in a single visit (ADA).
      How long does it take for the gums to heal after an implant?
      The first round of healing takes about a week (Cleveland Clinic). Dissolving stitches can take several weeks to disappear (Cambridge University Hospitals NHS). The bone takes much longer: Cleveland Clinic says about 3 to 9 months to fuse around the implant.
      What does "teeth in a day" mean?
      It usually means a tooth or a set of teeth is attached to new implants within a week of surgery, called immediate loading. The first teeth are often temporary. For a whole jaw of missing teeth, the ITI consensus supports immediate loading of fixed teeth in suitable cases, but it's complex treatment and not everyone qualifies. See Can you get an implant the same day as an extraction?
      Can I have a temporary tooth while the implant heals?
      Usually, yes. Your dentist may give you a temporary crown, bridge or denture so you can eat and speak normally (ADA). Cleveland Clinic notes that front teeth usually get a temporary tooth, while a back tooth may not need one.
      Is it bad to wait a long time after an extraction?
      It can make things harder. In the 6 months after an extraction, the jaw ridge shrinks by an average of 3.8 mm in width and 1.24 mm in height (Osteology consensus 2012), which can mean a bone graft later. After a graft heals, Cleveland Clinic advises getting the implant within 6 to 12 months.

      Sources

      1. Hämmerle CHF, Chen ST, Wilson TG Jr. Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants 2004;19 Suppl:26–28 (3rd ITI Consensus Conference). Consensus Statements and Recommended Clinical Procedures Regarding the Placement of Implants in Extraction Sockets. 2004. Accessed October 26, 2026.
      2. Weber HP, Morton D, Gallucci GO, Roccuzzo M, Cordaro L, Grütter L. Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants 2009;24 Suppl:180–183 (4th ITI Consensus Conference). Consensus Statements and Recommended Clinical Procedures Regarding Loading Protocols. 2009. Accessed October 26, 2026.
      3. International Team for Implantology (ITI Consensus Database). Loading Protocols - Definition of Terms and General Statement. ITI CC 2013. Accessed October 26, 2026.
      4. Gallucci GO, Hamilton A, Zhou W, Buser D, Chen S. Clin Oral Implants Res 2018;29 Suppl 16:106–134. Implant placement and loading protocols in partially edentulous patients: A systematic review. 2018. Accessed October 26, 2026.
      5. Antonoglou GN, Pedrinaci I, Montero E. ITI Blog. Effects of dental implant placement timing and loading on the biological outcomes for partial edentulism—Is timing all?. May 18, 2021. Accessed October 26, 2026.
      6. Buser D, Chen ST, Weber HP, Belser UC. Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent 2008;28(5):441–451. Early implant placement following single-tooth extraction in the esthetic zone: biologic rationale and surgical procedures. 2008. Accessed October 26, 2026.
      7. Esposito M, Grusovin MG, Maghaireh H, Worthington HV. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2013;(3):CD003878. Interventions for replacing missing teeth: different times for loading dental implants. 2013. Accessed October 26, 2026.
      8. Hämmerle CH, Araújo MG, Simion M; Osteology Consensus Group 2011. Clin Oral Implants Res 2012;23 Suppl 5:80–82. Evidence-based knowledge on the biology and treatment of extraction sockets. 2012. Accessed October 26, 2026.
      9. Chen ST, Buser D. Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants 2014;29 Suppl:186–215. Esthetic outcomes following immediate and early implant placement in the anterior maxilla—a systematic review. 2014. Accessed October 26, 2026.
      10. Kim YK, Ku JK. J Korean Assoc Oral Maxillofac Surg 2020;46(6):435–439. Extraction socket preservation. 2020. Accessed October 26, 2026.
      11. American Academy of Periodontology. Ridge Modification. Accessed October 26, 2026.
      12. American Academy of Periodontology. Sinus Augmentation. Accessed October 26, 2026.
      13. Cleveland Clinic. Dental Implants: Types, Purpose & Benefits. last updated June 11, 2026. Accessed October 26, 2026.
      14. Cleveland Clinic. Dental Bone Graft: Process, Purpose & Healing. last updated August 6, 2024. Accessed October 26, 2026.
      15. American Dental Association (MouthHealthy). Implants. Accessed October 26, 2026.
      16. Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Insertion of dental implants. version 7, approved July 18, 2025. Accessed October 26, 2026.
      17. Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Dental implants in restorative dentistry. version 2, approved January 14, 2025. Accessed October 26, 2026.
      18. Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. Dental implants service - Overview. last updated December 2024. Accessed October 26, 2026.

      Last reviewed by the Dental Health Time editorial team, against the sources above. How we review.

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