Do I really leave with a full set of teeth the same day?

Yes, a fixed temporary set of teeth is attached the same day as implant placement, so you don't go home with gaps while healing.

How long does All-on-4 surgery take?

It varies by patient and how many teeth need to be removed beforehand, but plan for a substantial appointment since it covers extraction, implant placement, and attaching your temporary teeth in one visit.

When do I get my final, permanent teeth?

After the implants have fully fused with your jawbone, typically a few months after surgery, your final restoration is made and attached in place of the temporary set.

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all-on-4 in a day: what actually happens during surgery

By Dr. Aakash Rana, DDS · Updated September 2026 · 5 min read

Short answer: In a single visit, remaining teeth are removed if needed, 4 implants are placed, and a fixed temporary set of teeth is attached, so you leave the same day with a full smile, not a gap.

"All-on-4 in a day" is a real description of what happens on surgery day, but it helps to know the actual sequence of events rather than just the headline version. Here's a realistic walk-through of what an All-on-4 surgery appointment actually involves at Prana, from the planning that happens beforehand to what you'll experience that evening. Knowing the real sequence ahead of time tends to make the day itself feel far less intimidating.

Before Surgery Day Even Arrives

By the time you're in the chair for All-on-4 surgery, the planning has already happened well in advance. Your free consult included a full exam and X-rays or a 3D scan, which is how Dr. Rana maps out exactly where your 4 implants will go and designs your temporary teeth ahead of time, before you ever sit down for the procedure itself. That preparation is what makes a same-day result possible, rather than something improvised on the spot. Any questions about the plan, from timeline to what to expect, are best asked during this planning stage rather than the morning of surgery itself.

Getting Comfortable With Sedation

Because a full arch of treatment happens in one visit, comfort matters, and sedation options are discussed ahead of time based on your medical history, anxiety level, and personal preferences. Whatever level of sedation is chosen, the goal is the same: you should be relaxed and comfortable through the entire appointment, not anxious about what's coming next or watching the clock the whole time. If dental anxiety has kept you from addressing missing or failing teeth in the past, this is exactly the kind of conversation worth having openly and honestly before your surgery date is even set.

Removing Remaining Teeth and Placing the Implants

If you have remaining teeth in the arch being treated, they're removed first, and the site is prepared and cleaned before implant placement begins. From there, the 4 implants are placed at the specific positions and angles planned in advance, taking advantage of the strongest available bone in that arch. Because this is a surgical procedure, the appointment takes a meaningful chunk of the day, this isn't a quick in-and-out visit, even though the whole thing is completed in one sitting rather than spread across separate appointments. You'll be monitored closely throughout, and the team keeps you updated on progress as each step is completed, so you always know roughly where things stand.

Attaching Your Same-Day Temporary Teeth

Once the implants are placed, a fixed temporary set of teeth, prepared in advance based on your imaging and impressions, is attached the same day before you leave the office. This means you leave with a full, functional arch of teeth rather than going home with gaps while you heal over the following months. This temporary set also gives your gums and bite time to settle into their final shape before the permanent restoration is designed and made.

Adjusting to Your New Temporary Teeth

It's normal for speech and biting to feel slightly different in the first few days with a new temporary set, the same way any noticeable change in your mouth takes a little getting used to. Most patients adapt within a week or two as their tongue and lips adjust to the new shape and position of the teeth. The temporary set is designed to function well during this adjustment period, so you can eat a soft diet and speak comfortably while the implants underneath are healing. Many patients say the adjustment is easier than they expected, since having a full arch of teeth again, even a temporary one, immediately feels more natural than the gaps or loose denture they started with.

Recovery That Evening and What Comes Next

Expect some swelling and soreness in the days following surgery, managed with the pain plan discussed at your appointment, along with a soft-food diet while things settle over the first week or two, similar to the recovery pattern for a single implant but across a wider area. Over the following months, the implants fuse with your jawbone, after which your final restoration, designed and milled in Prana's in-house dental lab, replaces the temporary set with a permanent one. Full-arch treatment at Prana includes a 5-year workmanship guarantee and starts from $9,999 per arch, with 0% financing available from $167/month. If you're considering All-on-4, book your free consult to see a plan built around your own X-rays and bite.