Health & Healing
How long does a dental implant take?
Estimated wait
3 months – 9 months
Typically ~6 months
Based on published sources
Timeline guide
- Faster cases~4 months
- Average cases~6 months
- Slower casesUp to 9 months
If you need a bone graft first, that adds several more months before the implant can even be placed. The total depends heavily on how fast you heal. General information, not dental advice.
A dental implant is a months-long, multi-stage treatment, not a single appointment. The implant post is placed in a short surgical visit; the jawbone then fuses to it (osseointegration) over roughly 3–6 months — Cleveland Clinic cites 3 to 9 — and only after that is the permanent crown fitted.
More details
A temporary crown can fill the gap in the meantime, so you are not left without a tooth.
How the process works
- 1Implant post placed in a short surgical visit
- 2Initial soft-tissue healing (~1 week)
- 3Jawbone fuses to the implant — osseointegration (3–6 months, up to 9) ↑ the time on this page
- 4Permanent crown fitted after integration
Last updated: 10 Jul 2026
Information is for general knowledge only.