How long do I need in Vietnam for dental implants? (2026 guide)

Getting dental implants in Vietnam takes two trips in most cases. This is not a weakness of Vietnamese dentistry. It is simply how implant biology works. Bone integration takes months regardless of where in the world you have the procedure.

This guide covers every stage of both trips, explains why the wait between them exists, and gives honest answers about what can and cannot be shortened.

Why implants require two trips

A dental implant is a titanium screw inserted into your jawbone. Over the following 3 to 6 months, bone cells grow into the microscopic surface texture of the implant in a process called osseointegration. The implant becomes structurally part of your jaw.

Only after osseointegration is confirmed can a permanent crown be safely fitted. A crown placed on a non-integrated implant creates lateral forces that prevent fusion and can cause failure.

This biological timeline is the same whether you are treated in London, Hanoi, or Da Nang. Two trips to Vietnam separated by 3 to 6 months is equivalent to what a UK implant patient would experience spread across multiple local appointments over the same period.

Trip 1: Implant placement (7 to 10 days)

Days 1 to 2: Arrival and rest

Allow at least one full rest day after arriving in Vietnam before any clinical appointments. The journey from the UK (14 to 16 hours total) involves time zone adjustment and physical fatigue. Flying into Da Nang airport places you 10 minutes from the Hoang Dieu street clinic branch.

Days 2 to 3: Consultation and CBCT scan

Your first clinical appointment covers a full oral examination, CBCT scan (GBP 17), and detailed treatment planning with Dr. Tran Thanh Phong. The CBCT scan is reviewed to confirm bone height, width, and density at the implant site, the proximity of the inferior alveolar nerve (for lower jaw implants), and whether a sinus lift is required (for upper jaw implants near the sinus cavity).

This appointment also establishes the implant brand and size to be used, and confirms whether immediate loading is possible. If bone grafting is required, this is discussed and quoted at this stage.

Days 3 to 4: Surgery (implant placement)

The implant placement surgery takes 30 to 90 minutes depending on the number of implants and any extraction requirements. Local anaesthetic is used. Sedation is available for anxious patients on request.

After surgery, you return to your hotel to rest. Swelling and mild discomfort are normal for the first 72 hours. The clinic provides written aftercare instructions and a 24-hour contact number.

Days 5 to 8: Initial healing and post-operative check

Most patients feel significantly more comfortable by day 5. A post-operative check takes place at the clinic to verify healing, remove any temporary dressing if used, and confirm there are no signs of infection.

This period is also time for gentle sightseeing if you feel well enough. Da Nang beach walking and short taxi trips to Hoi An are feasible by day 6 or 7 for most patients.

Days 9 to 10: Departure

Allow at least 5 to 7 days between surgery and flying. This is not a strict medical rule but reflects standard post-surgical practice. Dr. Phong confirms your departure clearance at the post-operative check.

The 3 to 6 month gap: what to do at home

You return to the UK with the implant in place but no permanent crown. During this period:

• The implant is integrating with your bone. No specific activity restriction is required beyond avoiding trauma to the area.
• If a healing cap is in place, your UK dentist or hygienist can check it at a routine appointment.
• Smoking significantly slows osseointegration and increases failure risk. If you smoke, this is the period to stop.
• Maintain good oral hygiene around the healing site using a soft brush and the irrigation technique shown by the Picasso team.

You can use this gap to book Trip 2 flights and accommodation. Flights booked 2 to 3 months in advance from the UK typically cost less.

Trip 2: Crown fitting (5 to 7 days)

Day 1: Arrival and impressions

After arriving in Da Nang, a clinical check confirms osseointegration is complete. The dentist takes digital impressions or a scan of the implant site and the surrounding teeth. The crown is fabricated in Picasso’s partner laboratory.

Days 2 to 3: Crown fabrication

The laboratory fabricates your zirconia or Emax crown. This typically takes 2 to 3 working days. You have time to revisit Da Nang, Hoi An, or other areas from Trip 1.

Day 4 to 5: Crown fitting and final check

The permanent crown is placed on the abutment and the bite is checked and adjusted. The dentist confirms the fit, checks the margins, and provides written records including the implant batch number, brand, and placement details.

You leave with a complete dental record for your UK dentist to hold.

Immediate loading: when a single trip is possible

Immediate loading means a provisional crown is placed within 24 to 48 hours of implant surgery. In selected cases using Straumann BLX implants, this is clinically supported.

Eligibility requires:

• Adequate bone volume and density at the site (confirmed by CBCT)
• Absence of active infection
• Favourable occlusion (the opposing teeth do not create excessive force on the provisional crown)

If you qualify, a single trip of 7 to 10 days covers placement and provisional crown fitting. You return in 3 to 6 months for the final crown only, which can be completed in 3 to 4 days.

Not every patient qualifies for immediate loading. Dr. Phong does not confirm eligibility until the CBCT scan is reviewed. Be cautious of clinics that offer immediate loading without first seeing a scan.

The Straumann BLX implant system costs GBP 1,304 for the complete implant at Picasso (May 2026).

All-on-4: the two-trip timeline

All-on-4 patients follow a similar but extended protocol.

Trip 1 (10 to 14 days): Extractions of remaining teeth (if required), placement of four implants per arch, and fitting of a provisional fixed bridge on the same day or within 48 hours. You leave Vietnam with fixed teeth.

Trip 2 (7 to 10 days, 4 to 6 months later): The final prosthetic bridge (titanium bar or BioHPP) replaces the provisional bridge. This is the permanent restoration.

For the All-on-4 cost breakdown and protocol detail, see the All-on-4 cost guide.

Can I rush the process?

Osseointegration cannot be rushed. There is no drug, technique, or implant brand that eliminates the need for bone integration time.

Even with advanced surface-treated implants such as Straumann and Nobel Biocare, 3 months is the minimum before a final crown in standard cases. Clinics offering permanent implant crowns within a single 7-day trip using standard implants are either placing a provisional crown or skipping the osseointegration verification step. Ask directly: “Is this crown provisional or permanent?”

Total cost for a two-trip implant case

This estimate covers one Straumann implant across two trips from London.

A single Straumann implant at a UK private clinic costs GBP 2,500 to GBP 4,000 for the treatment alone, without any travel. The comparable UK all-in cost stays higher than the Vietnam total despite two international flights.

Preparing for your implant trip

Before booking flights, send Picasso the following:

1. An OPG panoramic X-ray from your UK dentist (if taken within the last 12 months)
2. Any existing CBCT data in DICOM format
3. A note of all medications you take, especially blood thinners (warfarin, aspirin, clopidogrel), bisphosphonates (for osteoporosis), or diabetes medication
4. Details of any active dental infection or recent extraction

The team will confirm whether your case is suitable for treatment in Vietnam and give an initial GBP estimate before you commit to flights.

Request a free implant quote

Send your X-rays and case details to get a written GBP plan from Dr. Phong’s team within 24 to 48 hours.

Request a free quote