From the moment you sit down for your first consultation to the day your final restoration is placed, the All-on-X process unfolds in a series of carefully planned stages, each one building toward a complete, lasting smile. For most patients, the full journey takes anywhere from six to twelve months, and knowing what lies ahead can make every step feel far less daunting.
At Ocean Breeze Implant & Esthetic Dentistry in Delray Beach, Dr. Nicholas Goetz guides patients through this process with a level of care and precision few practices in the country can offer. As one of approximately 150 maxillofacial prosthodontists in the United States, Dr. Goetz brings advanced training in complex oral rehabilitation to every case, ensuring your treatment is not only thorough but built to last. If you have been wondering whether full arch dental implants might be right for you, understanding the timeline is the best place to begin.
Stage One: Consultation and Comprehensive Evaluation
The process begins long before a single implant is placed. Your initial consultation is one of the most important appointments in your entire treatment, and it involves far more than a conversation.
What Happens During Your Consultation
Dr. Goetz will conduct a complete oral health evaluation, reviewing your bone density, gum health, and bite function to determine whether you are a strong candidate for All-on-X. A key part of this evaluation is CBCT scanning technology, which produces a detailed three-dimensional image of your jaw. This imaging allows Dr. Goetz to precisely map your anatomy and identify any areas where preparatory work, such as bone grafting or extractions, may be needed before moving forward. The goal of this stage is not just to determine candidacy but to design a treatment plan tailored entirely to your mouth.
Preparing for Surgery
Some patients require preparatory procedures before implant placement can begin. If bone loss has occurred, bone grafting may be recommended to create a stable foundation. This step, when necessary, adds healing time to the overall timeline. Remaining teeth may also need to be extracted in advance. According to research published by the National Institutes of Health, proper pre-surgical planning is a critical factor in implant success. Once preparatory work is complete and healing has occurred, you are cleared for surgery.
Stage Two: Implant Placement and Temporary Restoration
This is the appointment many patients look forward to most. On the day of your surgery, Dr. Goetz places the titanium implant posts into your jawbone at carefully calculated angles. What makes All-on-X remarkable is that patients typically leave with a full set of functional temporary teeth on the same day, allowing you to smile, speak, and eat without going through a toothless healing period. You can read more about whether you may be a candidate in our guide on being a good candidate for All-on-X dental implants.
The temporary restoration protects your implants during the most important stage of healing, called osseointegration. During this process, the titanium posts gradually bond with your jawbone to create a strong, stable foundation for your final restoration.
This healing phase usually takes about three to six months. Following Dr. Goetz’s post-operative care instructions during this time is important for helping your implants heal properly and supporting a successful long-term result.
Stage Three: The Final Restoration
Once osseointegration is confirmed, you return to Ocean Breeze to have your final, permanent restoration placed. This prosthesis is custom-crafted using detailed records gathered throughout your treatment and is designed to look, feel, and function like natural teeth.
Receiving your final restoration is an important milestone, and many patients describe seeing their completed smile for the first time as a genuinely transformative moment.
Throughout this stage, Dr. Goetz reviews your bite, ensures proper function, and makes any final refinements. Patients who have chosen implant-supported dentures or full-arch options often remark that the permanence and stability of the result far exceed their expectations. This is the moment the timeline was always building toward.
Begin Your All-on-X Journey at Ocean Breeze Implant & Esthetic Dentistry
The All-on-X timeline requires patience, but every phase has a purpose. From the precision of your CBCT scan to the placement of your final restoration, each step is designed to deliver a smile that will serve you for decades. Dr. Nicholas Goetz’s advanced training as a maxillofacial prosthodontist, combined with his experience handling complex cases that others often decline, means patients at Ocean Breeze receive an extraordinary level of care from start to finish.
If you are ready to learn whether All-on-X is right for you, we invite you to take the first step today. You can explore our digital CT scan technology to understand how we plan your treatment, or contact our office to schedule your comprehensive consultation with Dr. Goetz.
