Patient Guide
Teeth in a Day: What Happens, Step by Step
From consultation to your final smile, explained by board-certified oral surgeons.
Last updated 2026-10-09
The short answer
“Teeth in a day” means you have implant surgery and leave the same day with a fixed set of teeth. Four to six implants are placed, and an in-house lab makes your teeth during the surgery. The teeth you leave with are a fixed temporary set; after three to six months of healing, your surgeon may upgrade you to your final prosthetic. It is also called All-on-X, or TanderTeeth at Tänder.
The Process
Teeth in a Day, Step by Step
- 1
Free consultation and imaging
You meet a board-certified oral surgeon at a partner dental office near you. We review your imaging, talk through your goals, and tell you honestly whether All-on-X is a good fit. It is free, with no obligation.
- 2
Treatment plan and preparation
Your surgeon plans the number and position of your implants and your sedation. If you have bone loss, a bone graft or sinus lift may be added to the plan. Your own dentist is kept in the loop.
- 3
Surgery day: comfort first
You're sedated or under anesthesia, so you don't feel the procedure. Teeth that can't be saved are removed during the same appointment.
- 4
Implant placement
Your surgeon places four to six implants in your jawbone, angled where needed to make the most of the bone you have.
- 5
Your teeth are made while you're in surgery
Tänder's in-house lab technician fabricates your prosthetic during the procedure instead of sending it out, which is what makes same-day teeth possible.
- 6
You leave with fixed teeth
A fixed set of teeth is attached to your implants before you go home. Surgery typically takes three to six hours per arch.
- 7
Healing and follow-up
Expect swelling and fatigue for the first few days, on a liquid and then soft-food diet. Your surgeon checks your healing at follow-up visits.
- 8
Your final teeth
Over the next three to six months your implants fuse with your jawbone. Once healed, your surgeon may upgrade you to your final prosthetic.
Timeline
What to Expect After Surgery
| When | What it’s like |
|---|---|
| Surgery day | Sedated or under anesthesia; you go home with fixed teeth |
| Days 1–3 | Swelling, some discomfort and fatigue; liquid diet |
| Weeks 1–2 | Swelling goes down; most patients return to light activity within three to five days; follow-up visit |
| Months 1–6 | Implants fuse with the jawbone; diet gradually expands |
| After healing | Your surgeon may upgrade you to your final prosthetic |
Every patient heals differently. Your surgeon gives you a timeline for your own case.
Is It for You?
Who Teeth in a Day Can Help
It’s designed for people missing most or all of their teeth in one or both arches, people whose remaining teeth are failing, and people tired of removable dentures. Being told you don’t have enough bone doesn’t always rule it out, because bone grafts, sinus lifts and angled implants can help.
You do need to be healthy enough for oral surgery and sedation, and some conditions raise the risk of implant failure. A free consultation gives you a straight answer.
Still deciding between options? Read our All-on-X vs. dentures comparison, or see TanderTeeth cost and financing.
FAQ
Teeth in a Day: Frequently Asked Questions
“Teeth in a day” means you receive a fixed set of teeth on the same day as your implant surgery, instead of waiting months with no teeth or a removable denture. It is another name for All-on-X or All-on-4. TanderTeeth is Tänder's version of the procedure.
In most qualifying cases, yes. You leave with a fixed temporary prosthetic attached to your implants. Tänder's in-house lab fabricates it during your surgery. After your implants fully integrate, your surgeon may upgrade you to a final prosthetic.
Surgery typically takes three to six hours per arch. Your lab technician works at the same time, so your prosthetic is ready by the time the surgery is complete.
You're under anesthesia, so you won't feel the procedure. Some discomfort afterward is normal and is managed with prescribed medication.
Start with liquids and very soft foods such as soups, smoothies and protein shakes, and avoid hard or sticky foods. Most patients widen their diet over several weeks and return to a fairly normal diet within two to three months.
If your remaining teeth are failing, they are removed during the same surgery, so you don't need a separate appointment or time without teeth.
Many patients are, including some who were told they don't have enough bone for traditional implants, since bone grafting, sinus lifts and angled implants can help. You need to be healthy enough for oral surgery and sedation. Your surgeon decides after reviewing your imaging.
Tänder's surgeons perform TanderTeeth at partner dental offices in Mesa, Gilbert and San Tan Valley, serving patients across Greater Phoenix including Scottsdale, Chandler, Tempe and Queen Creek. Consultations are free.
See If Teeth in a Day Is Right for You
Free, no-pressure consultation with a board-certified oral surgeon at a dental office near you.