Chapter 04 • Question 3
How Long Does Dental Implant Surgery Take?
📺 8:00 video📖 12 min read
Reviewed by Dr Tim Fleming
BDS – Dental Surgeon (GDC Reg: 83324)
Understanding how long dental implant surgery takes helps you plan your schedule, arrange time off work, and set realistic expectations.
Quick Answer
- Single implant: 30-90 min surgery | 1.5-3 hrs total
- 2 implants: 60-90 min surgery | 2-3 hrs total
- 3-4 implants: 90-120 min surgery | 2.5-3.5 hrs total
- All-on-4: 2-3 hrs surgery | 3.5-5 hrs total
Single Implant Duration
Straightforward Case (30-60 minutes)
Adequate bone, no extraction needed, back tooth
- Anaesthetic: 10 min
- Accessing bone: 5-10 min
- Drilling: 15-25 min
- Placement: 5-10 min
- Closing: 10-15 min
Complex Case (60-90 minutes)
Additional time for:
- Front tooth aesthetics: +10-15 min
- Bone grafting: +10-20 min
- Difficult anatomy: +10-15 min
Multiple Implants Duration
2 Implants
Surgery: 60-90 min
Total: 2-3 hours
3-4 Implants
Surgery: 90-120 min
Total: 2.5-3.5 hours
All-on-4
Surgery: 2-3 hours
Total: 3.5-5 hours
Factors Affecting Duration
Bone Quality: Hard bone +5-10 min | Soft bone +5-10 min
Surgeon Experience: Reduces time by 20-30%
Surgical Guide: Saves 5-10 minutes
Planning Your Day
Time Off Work
- Single implant: Half day minimum, full day recommended
- Multiple implants: Full day off
- All-on-4: Full day, possibly next day too
- With sedation: Full day required
💡 Key Takeaways
- Single implant: 30-90 min surgery, 1.5-3 hrs total
- Multiple implants: Time per implant decreases
- All-on-4: 2-3 hrs surgery, 3.5-5 hrs total
- Front teeth take 10-15 min longer
- Bone grafting adds 10-30 min per site
- Surgeon experience reduces time by 20-30%
- Plan minimum half day off for single implant