First, see your dentist, periodontal surgeon, or oral surgeon for a consultation. It takes a surgeon (periodontist or oral surgeon) to place the implants and a restorative dentist (general dentist or prosthodontist) to make the restorations for the implants. Usually, the surgeon takes X-rays and will consult your restorative dentist about where implants can be placed, their sizes, and how many are needed. They will advise you about your particular case, sequence and fees.

If tooth extractions are needed, these areas will usually require some months of healing before implants can be placed. Sometimes implants can be placed at the time of extraction. Once implants are placed, three to six months of healing are needed for osseointegration. When the surgeon determines that the implants are ready to restore, "abutments" are attached to the implants. Abutments serve to connect the implants in the bone to the restoration in the mouth. Then the restoring dentist fabricates and attaches the restoration to the implants. Depending on the situation, the whole process can take from three months to over a year. In most cases, the dentist provides a temporary restoration for this period.