Last updated 09.11.2025
Delayed-load dental implant: Why this approach may sometimes be recommended
Understand when delayed-load implants are recommended, the staged timeline, risks, and how your plan is personalized.
What is delayed loading of dental implants?
When implants were first used years ago, the implants were placed in the jaw and nothing was attached to the implants until the implant had osseointegrated to the bone. The worry was that if teeth were attached too soon, forces or “load” might be placed on the implant and disrupt osseointegration (the biologic fusion of the bone to the titanium implant). Originally, this delayed timeline meant 6 months passed before any prosthesis was attached. This technique was called delayed-loading of the implant and this was the only way implants were used.
Introducing immediate loading
With more research came modifications, like the length and diameter of the implants, their surface texture and screw thread design. All of these changes helped hold the implant in position while osseointegration began. This holding of the implant in place is called initial stability, and allows the attachment of a provisional tooth on the implant. We now know this as immediate loading of the implant.
The modern way
Today, both immediate loading and delayed loading are used in treatment. The fixed full mouth implant treatment is immediate loading with all of the implants held in place by initial stability and the permanent trial teeth. Osseointegration will continue while wearing the prosthesis.
Immediate loading may also be used for single implants, but in the making of the provisional tooth, great care must be taken not to put forces on the implant. In this situation, the patient is asked to chew on the other side of the mouth.
If your doctor determines that the bone around the implant is soft, and if initial stability is not good, the implant may require the delayed loading approach, and a prosthesis is placed later on, after there has been time for osseointegration.
Is a delayed loading approach right for me?
A delayed-load dental implant means your implants are placed first, then final teeth are attached after healing. Your prosthodontist may recommend this route when the bone is less dense, and the initial stability is low. This gives extra time until osseointegration occurs, which helps protects long-term outcomes.
When waiting before attaching teeth supports long-term success
Waiting to place the final teeth allows bone to bond to the implants without added stress from chewing, which can be especially important if stability on surgery day is limited.
Who is eligible for delayed loading?
It’s a criterion for successful outcomes—based on your functional needs and bone quality/volume—rather than a yes/no ‘eligibility’ label. Your ClearChoice team recognizes your desire to have as short a treatment timeline as possible when it comes to getting your teeth attached to your implants. Rest assured your team reviews your case and recommends the safest path.
What your evaluation includes (3D CBCT, bone quality/volume, medical review)
3D CBCT imaging and clinical exam
Assessment of gum health, bite/occlusion, and available bone
Review of medical history and medications to plan a predictable approach
Situations where delayed loading might be recommended
Limited initial stability at placement due to limited bone volume/density
Recent extraction sockets that have limited bone-to-implant contact
Active infection or inflammation requiring resolution first
Planned bone grafting or sinus lift to create more bone support for the final result
Systemic factors that can affect healing (e.g., smoking; certain medical conditions/medications)
Cases where caution supports long-term predictability
How delayed-load dental implants work
After it is determined that the implant will be placed, without loading it with a provisional tooth, a few months will be allowed for healing of the bone around the implant. The lower the initial stability at placement, the longer the uninterrupted healing time that’s required.
Surgery day: Extraction and/or implant placement
Your prosthodontist places the implants using a prosthetically driven plan informed by 3D imaging. If you need a tooth extraction, the extraction may be completed at the same visit and the implant placed in the tooth socket.
Healing and osseointegration (typically 2–6 months)
Bone healing, or osseointegration, still typically takes 2–6 months. You’ll have scheduled check-ins to monitor progress and protect stability.
Attaching the final restoration after healing
Once healing is confirmed and the site is ready, your team designs and delivers the final teeth that are tailored to your bite and smile.
Provisional options while you heal
Your prosthodontist may discuss provisional teeth that are not attached to the implant — such as non-implant removable options - so you can function and smile during healing.
What to expect during recovery
Recovery guidance focuses on keeping the implants stable while your gums and bone heal, with management and adjustments to any non-implant removable options as needed.
“Whether treatment takes three months or a year and a half, (in the most complex cases) we’re walking beside you the whole way. We don’t leave your side.”
- Dr. George Wu
Post-op care and follow-ups to protect stability
Instructions on diet and hygiene to reduce stress on the implants
Check-ins to track healing and adjust your provisional teeth as needed
Long-term maintenance once the final teeth are placed
Routine professional maintenance and at-home care to keep tissues healthy
Guidance on protective habits and cleaning around the restoration
Why we may recommend delayed loading instead of immediate loading of your implants
Both use the same implants; the difference is timing.
Timing and stability requirements
Immediate loading: implants placed and provisional teeth attached the same day—only for eligible cases with adequate initial stability.
Delayed loading: implants placed first; provisional or final teeth attached after osseointegration healing recommended when additional time supports more predictable outcomes.
Why your prosthodontist may recommend a delayed loading treatment
Your prosthodontist considers bone quality/volume, medical factors that affect healing, and site conditions such as infection. The goal is to choose the path that best protects long-term function and comfort.
How we price a delayed loading treatment plan
Your all-inclusive quote accounts for surgery, the healing phase, provisional options during recovery, the final restoration, and follow-ups.
“Finances are always a concern, but we do everything we can to meet patients where they are.”
- Dr.Mohamed Kamel
Bundled, all-inclusive quote (what’s included)
Your quote typically includes diagnostic evaluation (including 3D imaging), personalized treatment planning, surgical care, implant components, provisional non-implant prostheses during healing (when recommended), delivery of the final teeth, and routine follow-ups—all from one team under one roof.
Third-party financing and the single, all-inclusive bill for claim filing
ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers works with vendors for third-party financing options to help make payments more manageable. While ClearChoice does not accept insurance payments, patients receive a single, all-inclusive bill they may use to file a claim with their insurance provider for potential reimbursement.
Insurance Assurance¹ / Lifetime zirconia warranty² (when applicable)
Where available, patients may qualify for Insurance Assurance¹ and a Lifetime zirconia warranty² on eligible zirconia fixed, full-arch restorations (terms apply).
¹Valid at participating centers only. Discount off fixed full arch dental implants, $2,500 per arch. Maximum discount $5,000. Not valid on prosthodontic appointments or for previous or ongoing work. Cannot be combined with other discounts. Discount taken off usual and customary fees. Contact your local center and show proof of insurance to claim your discount. ClearChoice is not affiliated with any insurance provider, and does not process insurance directly with insurance providers. If you choose to file a claim for reimbursement, you are solely responsible for all communication with your insurance company. Offer ends 12/31/2025.
²The Lifetime Zirconia Warranty applies to cracks or breaks in the zirconia arch only and not complications with implant integration or ordinary wear and tear. The warranty will be void if the patient fails to follow clinician care instructions, receives treatment outside the ClearChoice Network or is dismissed as a patient. Available in participating ClearChoice Dental Implant Center locations for treatment on or after 03/21/2025.
Selecting a team for a delayed loading approach
Provider experience and coordination matter—especially with delayed-loading timelines.
“From the front desk to the surgical assistants, our team runs like family—and we want every patient to feel like they’re part of it.”
- Dr. Wayne Gonzales
Provider-led planning
Your prosthodontist will evaluate the number of implants needed, implant positions, and prosthetic materials for your prosthesis based on your anatomy and health.
Questions to ask at your consultation
What does my 3D CBCT show about bone quality/volume?
Why is a delayed loading plan recommended in my case?
What provisional prosthesis solution will I use during healing?
What’s included in my all-inclusive quote and timeline?
Coordinated care under one roof
Having imaging, planning, surgery, and restoration under one roof streamlines visits and communication from consult to final teeth.
Schedule a consultation today>
Delayed-load implants FAQs
Why do you have to wait 3 months for dental implants?
Bone needs time to bond to the implants before teeth are attached; many patients heal within 2–6 months, depending on their case. If osseointegration has progressed enough, provisional teeth may be attached to the implant at 3 months.
What is the total time frame for dental implants?
From consultation to final teeth, timelines vary by case and healing. Your team will outline your specific plan.
Can you get provisional teeth while waiting for implants?
Yes—your prosthodontist will discuss provisional teeth options during healing.
What is early loading?
Early loading is a form of staged treatment in which teeth may be attached after about 1–2 months rather than waiting for full osseointegration (often 4–6 months). It’s considered only when stability and healing support the plan; the goal is always to protect long-term success.
What is the success rate of immediate load vs delayed load implants?
Both approaches can be successful when chosen appropriately. Your team will recommend the path that supports predictable outcomes.
