Dental Implants in Brazil: A Step-by-Step Guide for Patients from Abroad

Many people who live outside Brazil, including Brazilians living abroad, consider doing their dental implants in São Paulo. The most common questions are practical: how many trips will I need, how long do I have to stay, and what happens after I go home?

This guide explains each step of implant treatment at Odontoclinic Vila Mariana for patients coming from abroad. Every case is different, so the exact plan is always defined after the clinical evaluation.

Step 1: First contact on WhatsApp

Everything starts with a message on WhatsApp. You can write in Portuguese, English or Spanish. The team asks about your situation (missing teeth, current prosthesis, previous treatments) and explains which exams and documents are useful before the trip.

If you already have recent exams or X-rays, you can send them. They help the team understand your case, but they do not replace the in-person evaluation.

Step 2: Evaluation and CT scan in São Paulo

The first appointment in São Paulo is the clinical evaluation. The dentist examines your mouth, bone and gums, and explains the treatment options for your case.

For implants, the clinic always requests a CT scan (cone beam computed tomography), with or without bone grafting. The CT scan is not performed inside the clinic, and the team tells you where and how to do it. With the scan, the dentist can see bone height and thickness and plan the position of each implant.

Step 3: Treatment plan and trip planning

With the evaluation and the CT scan, you receive a treatment plan with the steps, the expected timeline and the number of visits. This is when the clinic organizes the appointment schedule to concentrate as many stages as possible during your stay. Learn more on our dental tourism page.

Step 4: Implant surgery

The implant is placed in a planned procedure, with local anesthesia. When indicated, the clinic uses digital planning and guided surgery, which helps place each implant in the planned position.

Step 5: Healing and the final teeth

This is the step that defines how many trips you will need, and it depends on the type of treatment.

Single implant

A conventional single implant usually needs around 90 days to integrate with the bone before the final crown. In most cases, this means two trips: one for the evaluation, CT scan and surgery, and another one, after healing, for the final crown. See more about the single dental implant.

Full arch: fixed teeth in 12 hours

For patients who have lost all or most of the teeth in an arch, the clinic offers the full-arch fixed prosthesis with immediate loading. Depending on the clinical indication, the implants are placed and the fixed teeth are delivered on the same day, in about 12 hours. The clinic has an in-house dental laboratory, which allows the prosthesis to be made at the clinic. Learn more about fixed teeth in 12 hours.

Cases that need bone grafting

When there is not enough bone, a graft may be needed before or during implant placement. In these cases, the healing period is longer and the plan usually includes more visits. The dentist explains this in the treatment plan.

Step 6: Going home and follow-up

Before you travel back, you receive care instructions for the first days and weeks. The team stays in touch on WhatsApp for questions during healing. Regular follow-up appointments and professional cleanings help keep the implants healthy over the years.

How long should I stay in São Paulo?

It depends on the treatment. For a single implant, the first trip usually covers the evaluation, the CT scan and the surgery. For full-arch cases with immediate loading, the stay is planned around the evaluation, the surgery day and the post-operative checkups. The exact number of days is defined in your treatment plan, so it is a good idea to book flexible tickets until the plan is confirmed.

Can I be treated in English?

Yes. Consultations and treatment can be carried out in English directly with the dentist, without an interpreter. Read more about what to expect when seeing a dentist in São Paulo in English.

About Odontoclinic Vila Mariana

Implant treatment at Odontoclinic Vila Mariana is led by Dr. Hugo Robertson, a dental surgeon specialized in Implantology (CRO-SP 43.140), with more than 35 years of clinical experience. You can see treatments of real patients on our real cases page.

• Address: Rua Domingos de Morais, 725, Vila Mariana, São Paulo, about five minutes on foot from the Ana Rosa subway station.
• Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 am to 7 pm, and Saturdays, 9 am to 1 pm.
• Private care: the clinic does not work with dental insurance plans.
• Contact: WhatsApp +55 11 99945-9908 or our contact page.