For patients facing the loss of a full arch of teeth, provisional fixed teeth can be fitted within 3 to 5 days of implant surgery. You do not leave without teeth and wait months — that is the point of the approach.
What "immediate" actually means
Four or six implants are placed in the jaw, and a fixed set of provisional teeth is attached to them within a few days. They are fixed in place: not removed at night, not resting loose on the gums.
The final prosthesis is fitted about 3 to 4 months later, once the bone has healed around the implants. So the sequence is: surgery, fixed provisional teeth within days, healing, final teeth.
Who it suits
- People facing the loss of a full arch of teeth.
- Long-term denture wearers who want something fixed.
- Patients who cannot accept a period without visible teeth.
- NRI patients planning treatment around a visit, because the first stage is completed within one trip.
What decides whether it is possible
A 3D CBCT scan showing bone volume and quality. Where bone has shrunk after years without teeth, grafting may be needed first, which changes the timeline. Your general health and bite also matter. This is a clinical decision, not a preference.
Living with provisional teeth
A soft diet is advised while the implants integrate — the provisional teeth restore appearance and basic function rather than full chewing force. Once the final prosthesis is fitted, normal chewing returns.
What to ask
- Is there enough bone, or is grafting needed first?
- How many implants, and why that number?
- How long between the provisional and the final teeth?
- What follow-up will I need afterwards?
Common questions
Is it the same as same-day implants elsewhere? Terminology varies between clinics. What matters is the actual plan: when implants are placed, when teeth are attached and when the final prosthesis is fitted.
Is the surgery painful? It is carried out under local anaesthesia; soreness for a few days afterwards is normal and managed with medicine.
Will the teeth look natural? The provisional set restores appearance immediately; the final prosthesis is refined for fit, bite and appearance.
Read more about dental implants, full mouth rehabilitation and All-on-4 vs All-on-6, or book a consultation.