Correcting the Misconception That Full-Arch Implant Surgery Takes a Long Time

If you are already feeling frightened

because you are worried it might take a long time,

I hope this article will help.

Did you open this article because you were afraid that full-arch implant surgery might be a major procedure that takes the entire day?

I am Lee Jang-wook, the director of Etoile de Seoul Dental Clinic in Seolleung-ro, Gangnam, Seoul, where I personally perform implant placement.

Having spent a long time examining full-mouth treatments for people with insufficient jawbone, today I would like to calmly explain the question many people fear most—“How long will the surgery take?”—just as I would in the consultation room.

If you read this article to the end, you will be able to see together that the substance of the vague fear you have felt is not as great as you may have imagined.

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A full arch that does not break!

❗You mean the treatment was completed in just three weeks with Nobon Arch??❗

The story of a mother

I met in the consultation room

A little while ago, a mother who was tired of wearing dentures for many years came in holding her son’s hand. As soon as she sat down, she said:

“Doctor, I’m not very strong, and I’m afraid of lying down for a long time… If I have to get implants throughout my entire mouth, won’t I have to lie on the operating table for half a day?” Her voice was slightly trembling.

She said that it was already upsetting that her dentures kept coming loose and prevented her from freely eating the foods she enjoyed, but she had put off treatment for several years because she thought she would also have to endure major surgery. I could truly understand how she felt. When we face something we do not know much about, our imagination tends to make it seem far larger and more frightening than it really is.

Nobon Arch is a full-mouth implant approach that reduces the burden of bone grafting.

Nobon Arch refers to a full-arch implant approach that may be attempted for edentulous people—those with very little jawbone remaining—without going through a bone-grafting process.

Rather than placing one implant for every tooth, four to six implants are placed in each arch by locating areas where strong bone remains, and a full prosthesis is placed on top of them.

It may be easier to understand if you think of it as the principle of stably supporting an entire bridge with several pillars. As a result, fewer implants are placed, and the surgical area naturally becomes smaller.

So does it really take the entire day?

The conclusion, first of all, is that it does not.

In practice, full-arch implant surgery generally takes about two to three hours per arch.

Of course, the time varies depending on the condition of each person’s jawbone, but it is far from requiring you to lie down for half a day.

We first use a 3D CT scan to examine the thickness of the bone and the location of the nerves, perform a computer-guided simulation, and then place the implants while following a navigation guide.

It is like checking the route with a navigation system before setting out, which allows us to minimize incisions and reduce time spent finding the right path.

Many people imagine this surgery as taking a long time because they have heard about older methods or have confused it with the process of placing implants over multiple appointments.

You will not go home without teeth on the day of surgery.

Another feature of full-arch implants is that a temporary prosthesis can be placed on the same day the implants are inserted.

This means you do not have to spend time with the uncomfortable appearance of having no teeth at all. Within approximately 30 days, once the gums have healed and the implants have settled into place, we complete the final prosthesis using zirconia and pink porcelain to recreate a natural-looking gum line.

Many people look forward to enjoying their favorite foods again, as chewing ability of approximately 90% that of natural teeth may be expected.

What happened to that mother?

I looked at the CT images together with her and explained, one point at a time, why the surgery would not take the entire day and how the temporary teeth would be placed on the same day.

After looking at the images, she gradually relaxed her shoulders and said, “Oh, so this is what it was.”

The implant placement performed a few days later was calmly completed within the expected full-arch implant surgery time. I still remember her walking out with her temporary prosthesis that day, smiling as she told her son, “It wasn’t as scary as I thought.”

In the end, what had frightened her was not the surgery itself, but the imagination that had grown larger because she did not know what to expect.

I will personally answer questions I often receive in the consultation room.

Q1. How long does full-arch implant surgery actually take?

A. It generally takes about two to three hours per arch. There are individual differences depending on the condition of the jawbone, so we will provide an accurate estimate after diagnosis.

Q2. Can older adults also receive this treatment?

A. This approach may actually be considered for people who find it difficult to visit several times because of their age or who are considering full-mouth treatment. However, the appropriate approach varies depending on overall health, so a detailed diagnosis comes first.

Q3. I am worried about pain after surgery.

A. There are individual differences, but many people say that the discomfort is manageable with ordinary pain medication. Because the approach minimizes incisions, it can help reduce discomfort.

Q4. Is maintenance very difficult after the implants are placed?

A. Brush and floss every day as you would with natural teeth, and have a checkup every six months. We also provide follow-up care related to full-arch treatment for up to three years.

I hope today’s story brings at least a little comfort to those who have been anxious because they imagined full-arch implant surgery taking much longer than it actually does. The unknown can be frightening, but once you understand it, the weight of the decision becomes much lighter.

If you still have questions, you are welcome to read through today’s story again at your own pace.

🦷 Etoile de Seoul Dental Clinic

📍 3rd Floor, Namhangang Building, 820 Seolleung-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul

📞 02-546-0654

🕒 Office Hours

• Tuesday–Friday 10:00–19:00 (Lunch 13:00–14:00)

• Saturday 10:00–15:00

• Evening hours until 21:00 on the second Tuesday of each month

• Closed on Mondays