Placing a dental implant takes about 15 minutes at TB Dent in Trebinje, under local anaesthetic. It doesn't hurt during the procedure; afterwards you may have mild pain and some swelling for a few days, which an ordinary painkiller handles. From implant to finished crown there are four appointments: placement, uncovering three to four months later, a scan about 20 days after that and the crown a few days later. Below is what happens at each step and what you will feel.
How does the dental implant procedure work at TB Dent?
The dental implant procedure at TB Dent takes four appointments, with planning from a CBCT scan before the first one. For patients from abroad that means three trips, because the scan and the crown fit into one stay of a few days.
The healing time of three to four months cannot be sped up. In the lower jaw it is usually about four months, in the upper jaw three to four.
What happens before the procedure?
Before the procedure the surgeon needs a CBCT scan, a three-dimensional X-ray of your jaw. It shows whether there is enough bone, which implant fits and whether a bone graft is needed, which is rare in our practice. If you are coming from abroad, send us the scan on WhatsApp and you get a plan and a price before you buy flights. What happens if you do need a graft is in Dental implants with bone loss, and what everything costs is in Dental implant cost.
What happens when the implant is placed?
When the implant is placed, you first get a local anaesthetic with articaine. The surgeon then places the implant in the jawbone, which takes about 15 minutes for one implant. During the procedure you also get an injection of dexamethasone to keep swelling afterwards to a minimum. Before anything starts, the doctor explains every step, so you know what comes next.
Implants at TB Dent are placed by Dr Darijo Pandžić, a specialist in oral surgery, and Dr Nikola Krnojelac, an oral surgery resident. On the day of the procedure you receive an implant passport with the manufacturer, type and position of the implant.
Can the implant go in straight after the tooth is taken out?
Usually, yes; this is called an immediate implant. At TB Dent we place the implant straight after the extraction when the tooth is fractured, a root canal treatment without infection has failed, or decay has made the tooth impossible to save. It can't be done straight away if the tooth was lost because of a large infection or a cyst; the bone then needs a few months to recover.
Will I have a gap while the implant heals?
For front teeth, usually not. If the implant is firmly stable in the bone when it is placed, you get a temporary crown straight away, ready within 24 hours. If it isn't stable enough, it heals without a crown.
Do dental implants hurt?
Dental implants don't hurt during the procedure. You feel the anaesthetic injection and pressure while the doctor works, but no pain. When the anaesthetic wears off, you may have mild pain that an ordinary painkiller handles well. How much varies from person to person, and many patients have no pain at all afterwards.
Bruising is common and harmless. Swelling lasts a few days and is usually minimal thanks to the dexamethasone. We prescribe a painkiller and an antibiotic, and cold compresses are a must in the first days.
Do you offer sedation or general anaesthetic?
No. We don't currently offer sedation, so implants are placed under local anaesthetic. A general anaesthetic for implants is only possible in a hospital. We would rather tell you now than have you arrive expecting something else.
What if I'm nervous?
You are not alone. In our practice, fear is the most common reason patients put off an implant. What helps most is knowing what will happen: the doctor explains every step before the procedure, and you can ask all your questions on WhatsApp before you travel.
What are the first days after the procedure like?
For most patients, the first days after the procedure are straightforward. Surgery is usually on a Saturday morning in our practice, so many patients are back at work on Monday.
Flying or a long drive is fine two days after the procedure. What to plan for the journey home is in Flying after dental implants.
What happens after the implant has healed?
After three to four months the implant has fused with the bone, and three short steps lead to the crown.
- Uncovering: the healed implant is uncovered so that the abutment and crown can later be attached to it.
- A scan or impression, about 20 days after uncovering. The laboratory then makes your crown.
- Fitting the crown, a few days after the scan. That is why the scan and the crown fit into one trip.
Check-ups are one month after the crown is fitted, then every six months. How travel and accommodation in Trebinje work is in Dental tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This article is also available in German.
Questions patients ask about the dental implant procedure
How long does it take to place a dental implant?
About 15 minutes for one implant at TB Dent, under local anaesthetic. For All-on-4 the procedure takes about an hour per jaw.
Does getting a dental implant hurt?
Not during the procedure; you feel only pressure. Mild pain is possible afterwards and an ordinary painkiller handles it; many patients have none.
How long does it take from implant to crown?
Three to four months of healing, then uncovering, a scan about 20 days later and the crown a few days after that. Four appointments in total.
When can I go back to work after a dental implant?
Usually after the weekend: surgery is often on a Saturday morning in our practice, and many patients are back at work on Monday.
Do I get temporary teeth while the implant heals?
For a front tooth, yes, if the implant is stable straight away: a temporary crown is ready within 24 hours. Otherwise the implant heals without a crown.
Can I have a dental implant under general anaesthetic?
Not with us. We place implants under local anaesthetic and don't offer sedation. A general anaesthetic is only possible in a hospital.
