A lower treatment price is only useful if you understand the time, travel, and follow-up behind it. Here is exactly how our patients plan the journey, with the day-by-day schedule we use at the clinic.
The short answer
Most All-on-4 and All-on-6 patients need two trips. The first takes 3 days for one arch or 3 to 4 days for both, and you go home with fixed temporary teeth when the implants are stable enough. After at least 4 to 6 months of healing, you return for your final teeth: 3 days for one arch, 4 days for both.
A single implant is placed in one appointment of 3 to 4 hours, and the permanent zirconia crown takes 2 days on the return visit. The main exception is significant bone loss, which may need bone regeneration or a sinus lift before the implants can be placed. After treatment, plan a short maintenance visit to our clinic every 6 to 8 months.
Trip 1
3–4 daysExam, surgery, and fixed temporary teeth.
Healing at home
4–6 monthsThe implants bond with the bone while you live normally.
Trip 2
2–4 daysDigital impression and final teeth from our lab.
Maintenance
Every 6–8 monthsCleaning and review at our clinic to keep your warranty.
Day by day
What each trip looks like for your treatment
These are the schedules we follow at the clinic. Appointments take a few hours, so most of each stay is free time to rest. Your own plan is confirmed after your exam and 3D imaging.
All-on-4 / All-on-6, one arch
Upper or lower teeth replaced on 4 to 6 implants
Trip 1 · implants and temporary teeth
- Day 1 2–3 hConsultation and all diagnostic records
- Day 2 2–3 hImplant surgery
- Day 3 1–2 hScrew-retained temporary teeth
Trip 2 · final teeth
- Day 1 2 hDigital impression
- Day 2 free dayOur lab makes your final teeth
- Day 3 2 hFinal prosthesis delivered
All-on-4 / All-on-6, both arches
Upper and lower teeth treated in one coordinated plan
Trip 1 · implants and temporary teeth
- Day 1 2–3 hConsultation and all diagnostic records
- Day 2 2–3 hImplant surgery
- Day 3 1–2 hScrew-retained temporary teeth
- Day 4 checkPost-operative review
Trip 2 · final teeth
- Day 1 3 hDigital impression
- Days 2–3 free daysOur lab makes both final prostheses
- Day 4 3 hBoth final prostheses delivered
Single implant
One missing tooth replaced with an implant and a crown
Trip 1 · implant
- One visit 3–4 hRecords and imaging, consultation, and implant placement
Want a temporary crown? Add a second day: a 1-hour appointment the next day to place it.
Trip 2 · final crown
- Day 1 1 hDigital impression
- Day 2 1 hPermanent zirconia crown
See every option on our dental implants in Mexicali page, or read our guide to All-on-4 dental implants in Mexico.
Before you travel
Send us these five things first
- Your X-rays and scans Any X-ray, CT or CBCT scan, or other records from your dentist.
- Your most recent quote Any treatment estimate from your local dentist.
- Your health and medications Medical conditions and the medications you take, so we can advise you before treatment.
- Your allergies To any medication or food.
- Smoking, vaping, or drug use Tell us honestly if you smoke, vape, use marijuana, or use any other drugs. It is confidential and you will never be judged, but it matters for the success of your treatment and helps us avoid complications.
Your final plan is still confirmed in person, with an exam and 3D imaging on your first day.
Temporary or final?
Why your teeth arrive in two stages
If you see an offer for “teeth in a day,” ask one question: are those the temporary teeth or the final ones?
“The temporary teeth are there so you can smile and eat while your implants heal. That normally takes 4 to 6 months. After that, you come back for your final crowns or prosthesis. The difference between the two is the material they are made of.”
Dr. Tomás García, oral implantology specialist
Temporary teeth
- Purpose
- Smile and eat normally while the implants heal
- Fixed in place
- Screw-retained, never a removable denture
- Worn for
- At least 4 to 6 months
Final teeth
- Purpose
- Your long-term crowns or prosthesis
- Material
- Permanent restorative material; zirconia for single crowns
- Made in
- Our lab, during your stay
Many clinics give patients a removable temporary denture while the implants heal. Our full-arch patients go home with fixed, screw-retained temporary teeth instead.
What decides if you leave with fixed teeth
It depends on primary stability: how firmly the implants are anchored on the day of surgery. Three things determine it:
- Your bone qualityHow dense and healthy the bone is where the implants go.
- The implant designThe type and shape of implant chosen for your case.
- The specialist’s skillThe experience of the surgeon placing the implants.
The International Team for Implantology (ITI) also stresses careful patient and site selection for immediate loading. Read the ITI review.
Exceptions
What could add time to your plan?
These are the three most common reasons a schedule changes for our patients.
- More dental work than expectedAt the in-person exam, we sometimes find you need more treatment than we could plan over the phone.
- Not enough boneSome patients need guided bone regeneration or a sinus lift before, or at the same time as, implant placement.
- Choosing sedationIf you decide on IV sedation, we schedule our anesthesiologist for your procedure.
You choose the date of your second trip. Once the 4 to 6 months of healing have passed, come back whenever it suits you. If you prefer to wait longer, your temporary teeth can stay in place; our team will confirm how long is right for your case.
For patients who drive from Southern California or Arizona, the second trip is a short drive rather than a flight, which makes the date easier to fit around work and family. The same goes for your maintenance visits.
Hotel and shuttle
What the package covers, on both trips
All-on-4 / All-on-6 and Smile Makeover
Included on your first trip and again on your return for final teeth.
- 3 hotel nights per trip, enough for a stay of up to 4 days
- Shuttle service on both visits
- One companion stays at the hotel at no extra cost
The only extra cost is sedation. IV sedation is performed by our anesthesiologist, who charges only their professional fee. If the exam shows you need additional treatment, we explain it and put it in writing before we continue.
Prices in U.S. dollars. Single implants are priced separately and do not include the hotel and shuttle package. Learn more about the Smile Makeover, or see how the border crossing works on our Mexicali dental tourism page.
Your comfort
Local anesthesia, sedation, and who comes with you
How you travel is up to you. Distance, time, cost, and your physical condition all play a part, so the choice of car or flight is yours. So is the choice of anesthesia: our priority is that you feel comfortable and safe.
Local anesthesia
- Faster recovery
- Simpler aftercare
- Lower cost
IV sedation
- Given by our anesthesiologist
- Their fee is charged separately
- Plan to bring a companion
We recommend bringing a companion if you are:
- Having treatment under sedation
- An older adult
- Living with a medical condition
- Limited in mobility
- Living with a memory condition such as Alzheimer’s
After you go home
Maintenance is part of the treatment
You can reach our team through the clinic’s official phone, WhatsApp, and office hours, before and after each trip.
After All-on-4 / All-on-6 or a Smile Makeover, you commit to a regular cleaning and review at our clinic in Mexicali. We check that everything is working well and that your hygiene and diet are protecting your new teeth.
If you miss these reviews, the warranty on your treatment is lost.
When to contact us right away
One to two weeks after surgery, these signs are not normal. If you notice any of them, contact our team:
- Bleeding
- A lot of pain
- Swelling
- Warmth in the area of your face or a fever
The FDA also recommends keeping a record of your implant brand and model, attending regular dental reviews, and contacting your provider promptly if an implant feels loose or painful. FDA guidance for implant patients.
Your checklist
Take these questions to your video consultation
Ask for answers you can keep
- Which treatment do you recommend, and which teeth can be preserved?
- How many days will each trip take in my case?
- Will I leave the first trip with fixed temporary teeth?
- Do I need bone grafting or a sinus lift, and does that add a phase?
- Which hotel nights and shuttle services are included, and on which trips?
- How often will I need maintenance visits at the clinic?
Questions patients ask before booking
Can I finish dental implant treatment in one trip?
Not with final teeth. The implants need 4 to 6 months to heal before the final crown or prosthesis is made. On the first trip you receive your implants and, for full-arch treatment, fixed temporary teeth when the implants are stable enough. The final teeth are delivered on a second trip.
Does All-on-4 always mean two trips?
For most of our patients, yes: one trip for surgery and temporary teeth, and one for the final teeth. Patients with significant bone loss may need bone regeneration or a sinus lift before implant placement, which can add a phase to the plan.
Are three hotel nights enough?
For our All-on-4 / All-on-6 and Smile Makeover packages, yes. Three nights cover a stay of up to four days, which matches both the surgical trip and the final-teeth trip, for one arch or both. The package includes three nights on each trip.
Will my first set of teeth be temporary?
Yes. With full-arch treatment you leave the first trip with fixed, screw-retained temporary teeth, not a removable denture, so you can smile and eat during healing. Your final crowns or prosthesis are made from a different, permanent material and delivered after 4 to 6 months.
Can I wait longer than 6 months for my second trip?
Yes. You choose the date of your return once the healing period has passed. Your temporary teeth can stay in place for longer if you prefer; our team will confirm how long is right for you.
Should I bring someone with me?
One companion can stay at the hotel at no extra cost. We especially recommend it for older adults, patients with medical conditions or limited mobility, and anyone having treatment under sedation.
What signs after surgery are not normal?
If one to two weeks after surgery you have bleeding, a lot of pain, swelling, or warmth in the area of your face or a fever, it is not normal. Contact our team right away.
Do I need to come back after my final teeth?
Yes. Every 6 to 8 months you return to our clinic in Mexicali for a cleaning and maintenance appointment. These visits keep your implants healthy and are required to keep your warranty valid.
Know your schedule before you book the trip.
Send us your records and tell us where you will be traveling from. We will explain the proposed treatment and how many days each visit will take.
Talk to the patient coordination teamOr call +1 (760) 620-3040
Meet Dr. Tomás García or look inside our clinic facilities.
Sources
Schedules, package inclusions, and clinical criteria come from Dr. Tomás García and the Let’s Smile Dentistry team. General clinical context comes from the sources below.
- American Dental Association, MouthHealthy: Implants. Placement, bone healing, and restorative phases.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Dental Implants, What You Should Know. Healing, patient factors, implant records, and follow-up.
- ITI: Implant Placement and Loading Protocols, 7th Consensus Conference review. Immediate protocols and case selection.
