This page maps the patient-side timeline for a full-arch implant case, the most involved version of what we do, used here because most other implant pathways at our practice are subsets of the same workflow. Single-implant cases follow the same pattern in compressed form; complex and zygomatic cases follow the same pattern with an extended planning phase and longer integration window. If your case differs in any meaningful way, we’ll map the timeline against your specific surgical plan at the planning appointment.
First visit, 45–60 minutes.
The consultation is a focused conversation, not a sales meeting. We ask about your dental history: what brought you in, what you’ve been told elsewhere, what you’re trying to accomplish over the next twenty years. A clinical exam follows, plus any imaging we don’t already have on file (CBCT scan, intraoral digital impression).
You see the imaging with us, on screen. We walk through the realistic options for your case, including the full-arch route, single-implant route, and treatment alternatives if implants aren’t the right answer. Most patients leave the consultation with a clear direction; the formal written treatment plan and cost come at the next visit. See book a consultation for what to bring.
Virtual surgery before real surgery.
Between consultation and surgical day, the case is planned digitally: implant positions, angulation, depth, prosthetic emergence, and the surgical guide where applicable. You see the plan at a separate planning appointment, with the imaging on screen and the implants positioned virtually. The written cost quote, the financing math, the anesthesia plan, and the surgical date are all finalized at this appointment.
You leave the planning visit with a written summary you can review on your own time. Surgical day is scheduled at the end of the appointment, typically two to four weeks out. No same-day pressure to commit.
What you’ll feel. What we’ll do.
Morning. Arrive with someone who can drive you home. Check in, vitals, IV access placed by the anesthesiologist. You’re in the operatory within 30 minutes.
Anesthesia. IV sedation or general anesthesia, delivered by our in-house team. You will not be awake for the surgical work. Most patients describe the experience as sleeping through it. See sedation & anesthesia.
Surgery. Implants placed per the digital plan, with or without a surgical guide depending on case complexity. Total surgical time runs 2–6 hours for full-arch cases.
Lab handoff. An intraoral scan or impression of the placed implants is taken while you’re still in the chair. Our lab mills the provisional prosthesis from your surgical plan during the same window.
Provisional seated. Provisional prosthesis fitted, bite verified, minor adjustments made. You leave the operatory with fixed teeth in place.
Recovery and discharge. Monitored recovery in our space. Light meal, post-op instructions, discharge with your driver. Most patients are home by mid-afternoon.
Where applicable, you leave with teeth.
For most full-arch and zygomatic cases at Revive, the provisional prosthesis is delivered the same day. It looks and functions like natural teeth, and most patients forget it’s transitional within a week or two, but it’s designed to be replaced by the final restoration once integration is confirmed.
A small number of cases, including extensive grafting, certain medical conditions, and severe parafunctional bite, aren’t same-day candidates. You’ll know which group you’re in at the planning appointment, not on the surgical day.
Weeks 1, 2–8, and 8–16.
Week 1: early healing
Soreness and swelling peak in the first 48–72 hours and resolve steadily after that. Soft diet: smoothies, soups, scrambled eggs, soft pasta, well-cooked vegetables. Sleep with head slightly elevated for the first few nights. We see you back at 7–14 days for soft-tissue review.
Weeks 2–8: early integration
Most patients return to normal daily activity within the first week or two. Soft-to-moderate diet continues; the provisional prosthesis is fully functional but transitional. Routine clinical check at the 6-week mark to confirm soft-tissue healing and implant stability.
Weeks 8–16: integration confirmation
Diet gradually expands. Implants finish integrating with bone, the biological process where bone grows directly against the implant surface to create a stable anchor. We confirm integration with a clinical check and imaging where indicated. The design conversation for the final restoration begins.
The teeth that go home for good.
Once integration is confirmed, typically 3–6 months after surgery, the final prosthesis is designed in our in-house lab from the integrated implant positions. Material choice (monolithic zirconia for most cases, hybrid acrylic-on-titanium where biomechanics call for it) is finalized as part of the design conversation.
Delivery typically takes one to two appointments: a try-in to verify fit, bite, shade and aesthetics, then a final seating once everything is dialed in. Minor refinements are handled chairside; the designer is in the building, not on the other end of a courier route.
First-year maintenance.
An implant case isn’t finished when the final prosthesis is seated. The first year of routine maintenance, hygiene visits, occasional refinement, and the start of your long-term maintenance routine, is part of the workflow. For the long-term maintenance picture, see implant aftercare.
For the cost-side picture of the journey above, see cost & financing. To begin the journey, book a consultation or call (416) 499-7878.