A full mouth extraction (FME) involves removing all remaining natural teeth from the upper, lower, or both dental arches. This procedure is typically recommended when teeth are unsalvageable due to advanced periodontal disease, widespread decay, or significant trauma. Understanding the time involved requires looking beyond the surgery itself, as the process spans multiple stages from initial consultation to complete healing. The total duration is highly variable, depending on the patient’s health, the complexity of the case, and the chosen restorative path. The entire journey can take weeks for initial steps and months for final recovery and prosthetic fitting.
Pre-Surgical Planning and Preparation
The planning phase begins with an initial consultation and assessment to create a tailored treatment plan. This stage includes capturing diagnostic images, such as panoramic X-rays or CT scans, to evaluate the bone structure and nerve locations. The information gathered dictates the complexity of the procedure and helps the surgical team plan the precise method for tooth removal.
During planning, the patient and surgeon discuss anesthesia and any requirement for pre-prosthetic work, such as immediate denture creation. This preparation timeline ranges from a few days to several weeks, depending on appointment availability and the need for pre-surgery antibiotics. If general anesthesia or IV sedation is used, specific pre-operative instructions, such as fasting for eight hours, must be followed on the day of surgery.
The Surgical Procedure Duration
The surgical procedure is the most concentrated phase, but its duration varies significantly based on anatomical and procedural factors. While a simple single tooth extraction takes 20 to 40 minutes, a full mouth removal is much longer. The typical time range for a full mouth extraction performed under sedation or general anesthesia is approximately one to four hours.
The complexity of removal is often a greater determinant of total surgery time than the number of teeth. Teeth that are impacted, fused to the jawbone, or have curved roots require more delicate surgical maneuvering and bone removal, extending the procedure time. The type of sedation used also influences clinical time, as general anesthesia requires careful patient monitoring.
Simultaneous procedures also add to the duration. If the surgeon performs an alveoloplasty—the smoothing and reshaping of the jawbone ridge—it is done immediately after extractions to prepare the mouth for denture placement. When immediate dentures are placed, the surgeon fits them directly into the mouth at the end of the extraction and bone smoothing process to ensure a proper initial fit.
Immediate Post-Operative Period
After extractions, the patient enters the post-operative period within the clinical setting before discharge. This phase focuses on controlling initial bleeding and monitoring recovery from anesthesia or sedation. Gauze pads are placed over the extraction sites, and the patient applies firm pressure to promote a stable blood clot, a process that typically takes 30 minutes to an hour.
Patients who received IV sedation or general anesthesia require a period of monitored recovery as the effects of the medications wear off. This time ensures vital signs are stable and the patient is alert enough to be safely discharged to the care of a responsible adult. The total time spent in the recovery room, from the end of surgery to discharge, usually lasts between one and three hours.
Comprehensive Recovery Timeline
Recovery extends over many months as the body heals the surgical sites and adapts to the absence of teeth. The initial acute healing phase lasts the first 24 to 48 hours, during which a protective blood clot forms and swelling reaches its maximum. Swelling begins to subside over the next two to three days, and pain levels usually peak around day three before gradually improving.
Soft tissue healing occurs quickly, with the gums beginning to seal the sockets within the first week, and the surface tissue appearing closed within seven to fourteen days. While the surface heals rapidly, the underlying bone healing is a much slower process of remodeling and socket filling. New bone formation begins after about one week, with substantial filling of the sockets occurring by ten weeks.
Complete bone remodeling is necessary before a final, permanent prosthetic can be fitted. This process takes an average of three to six months, and sometimes up to eight months, depending on the individual. If immediate dentures were placed, they serve as a temporary solution during initial gum healing. As the jawbone shrinks and changes shape over the months, multiple adjustments, or “relines,” are required until the bone stabilizes enough for the fabrication of a final prosthetic appliance.