How Many Trips Does All-on-4 in Vietnam Need? A Real Two-Trip Case

Michael Turner had All-on-4 implant surgery at Elite Dental in Ho Chi Minh City as the first of two trips. Over five days in April 2026, his team removed his old restorations and failed implants, rebuilt bone where it was needed, placed Straumann All-on-4 implants and fitted new zirconia crowns on three other teeth. He then returned home to let the implants heal, with a second trip planned for the final bridge. Here is how the two-trip plan works, what happened on his first trip and what Australians and New Zealanders should plan for between trips.

Michael Turner with the Elite Dental team in Ho Chi Minh City during his first All-on-4 trip

The Two-Trip All-on-4 Plan

For many Australians and New Zealanders, a full-arch implant plan raises the same practical question: how many times do I have to travel? All-on-4 usually needs two trips, with several months at home in between. That structure suits a planned journey, but only if you know what each trip involves and what happens in the gap.

Michael’s case is a useful example because his first trip combined several parts of treatment, not only the implants. It shows why the plan is confirmed after examination and a 3D scan, and why the two-trip format is a clinical decision, not just a way to split the cost. At Elite Dental, each stage is planned clearly so that treatment is convenient for international patients.

Why All-on-4 Needs Two Trips

All-on-4 replaces a full arch of teeth with a fixed restoration on four implants. The implants need time to fuse with the jawbone, a process called osseointegration, before the final bridge is fitted. That healing happens in the body, so it cannot be hurried by a longer stay in Vietnam.

Michael’s treatment at Elite Dental was planned in clear, transparent stages that follow clinical protocol:

• Online consultation and preliminary planning (before travelling to Vietnam): Michael discussed his general health remotely with the specialist team, so the dentist could outline a provisional plan and he could organise his trip with confidence.
• Airport pickup and hotel arrangements: Elite Dental met Michael at the airport and arranged a hotel that was convenient for getting around.
• Detailed consultation and 3D imaging (in Vietnam): On arrival at the clinic, Michael had a Cone Beam 3D CT scan to assess his jawbone density accurately and identify key anatomical landmarks.
• Surgery and temporary teeth (Stage 1): Dr Tran Chau Bao Phuc removed the old restorations and failed implants, extracted one premolar, performed bone grafting and placed the full-arch implants on the same day. Michael was then fitted with fixed temporary teeth.
• Review and final bridge (Stage 2): After about 4 to 6 months for the implants to integrate firmly with the bone, Michael returns to Elite Dental for a review and the final fixed bridge, usually within about 3 to 5 days.

Timeline of Michael Turner’s All-on-4 plan showing two trips to Vietnam with about 4 to 6 months of healing at home

Digital dentistry also helps. With modern 3D scanning in place of traditional impressions taken by biting into wax, the gagging and discomfort many patients dread are avoided.

Michael’s First Trip: Five Days in Ho Chi Minh City

Michael’s first trip ran from 21 to 25 April 2026. His plan combined All-on-4 surgery with several other procedures that had to be done first, which is common when a patient has had earlier dental work.

A few points stand out:

• Preparation came first. Old implants and a failed restoration were removed, and bone was rebuilt where needed, before the new implants were placed. This is why a 3D scan and examination come before any quote is final.
• A review on day three gave the team a chance to check healing while Michael was still in Vietnam.
• Other treatment was completed in the same stay. The crowns on teeth 14 to 16 were fitted before he left, so the second trip can focus on the All-on-4 bridge.
• One treatment continues. The gum graft at tooth 22 had been started and is monitored as part of his ongoing plan.

All-on-4 is only one part of the first trip. Your own plan depends on what your mouth needs.

The Expertise Behind a Complex Case

Michael’s first trip brought several disciplines together in one stay: removing earlier implants and restorations, rebuilding bone, placing new implants, gum surgery and zirconia crowns. A plan like this depends on experienced clinicians who work as a team, not on equipment alone. Two dentists led his care:

Dr Tran Chau Bao Phuc, Implantologist. Graduated from the Faculty of Odonto-Stomatology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, and holds a Master Clinician in Implant Dentistry Diploma from Loma Linda University and gIDE Institute (California, USA). Has trained clinically with leading implant and periodontal experts, including Prof. Giovanni Zucchelli (Italy), Prof. Istvan Urban (Hungary) and Prof. Fouad Khoury (Germany). He lectures at THL Academy, serves as an ITI Study Club Director (ITI Gia Dinh) in ITI Section Vietnam and is a co-founder of Elite Dental Metropole.

Dr Nguyen Trung Nguyen, Prosthodontist. Doctor of Dental Medicine (DDS) from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City (2014–2020), clinical residency at the Ho Chi Minh City hospital of Odonto-Stomatology (2021–2022) and a continuing education certificate in implantology from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City (2023). Certified in advanced anterior composite restorations, full-mouth oral rehabilitation, posterior adhesive restorations and porcelain veneers, and endodontic retreatment of complex cases.

Both work within a team of more than 30 specialists trained in France, Italy, the US and Japan. Complex cases are discussed between specialists so that implant, gum and restorative needs are planned together. In practice, this means:

• Planning from evidence. Treatment follows evidence-based dentistry and the philosophy of “minimal intervention, maximum preservation”, and is built on each patient’s 3D scan and examination.

A 3D CBCT scan comes first, so preparation and implant positions are planned before any quote is final

• Precise surgery. Implants are placed using surgical guides, including a static guide and the DCarer dynamic navigation system, in a 7-SOP sterile environment that meets AACI standards.
• Safety standards. Elite Dental is the first dental clinic in Vietnam to achieve AACI accreditation, with a score of 95.33/100, and the same framework applies at all three branches in Ho Chi Minh City.
• A named dentist. The name and professional background of your treating dentist are provided to you in writing before you travel.

For an overseas patient, this is what makes a two-trip plan workable. The team that plans the first trip is the same team that reviews your healing and fits the final bridge.

Between Trips: What Happens at Home

The months between trips are part of the treatment. The implants are integrating, and your job is to protect them and stay in touch.

What you do.

• Follow your aftercare instructions: gentle brushing, soft food in the early weeks, no smoking or alcohol, and medicines exactly as prescribed.
• Attend any review your plan includes, and see your own dentist for routine care.
• Report anything unusual early, such as swelling that does not settle, a loose implant or bridge, or worsening pain.

What Elite Dental provides. Aftercare starts when your treatment ends and is backed by AACI-accredited safety standards:

• Full clinical documentation for your home dentist.
• Remote WhatsApp follow-up with your specialist.
• Manufacturer warranty on implants and restorations.
• Continuity of care with your home dentist.
• Priority scheduling if you return for a review visit.

For a full list of what to collect before you fly home, see our guide to coming home after dental work in Vietnam.

Trip 2: Fitting the Final Bridge

When healing is confirmed, you return for the final bridge. A digital impression is taken with a 3D Trios scanner and the PIC stereophotogrammetry system. The bridge is made with CAD/CAM technology, fitted onto the four implants and adjusted for a comfortable bite. This stage typically takes about three to five days.

Because the plan is built from digital data, the final bridge is manufactured to match it closely. You then follow a regular check-up schedule to monitor the implants and the bridge.

Planning Two Trips From Australia or New Zealand

The two-trip structure lets you plan well ahead:

• Work and leave. Book leave for both trips, and allow for the first trip to run up to a week, as Michael’s did.
• Flights and accommodation. Allow for two return flights and roughly 8 to 12 days of accommodation across both trips. Compare the total with your quote at home.
• The gap. Choose a second trip date that gives your implants enough time, and agree it with your team before you leave.
• Insurance. Standard travel insurance usually excludes complications from planned dental work. Check your policy and ask about specialist cover.
• Documents. Ask for your treatment notes, invoice, X-rays and implant details before you leave Vietnam. Elite Dental’s Document Assistance service helps with insurance, pension and treatment documentation.

What the Plan Costs

Elite Dental’s 2026 price list for All-on-4 per arch ranges from 210,000,000 VND (Korean systems) to 260,000,000 VND (Straumann), about US$8,100 to US$10,000, or A$12,200 to A$15,000, and includes implant placement and the final CAD/CAM bridge. Preparatory treatment such as bone grafting, extractions, removing old implants or gum surgery is charged in addition, depending on your case. Michael’s invoice shows this clearly: each procedure is itemised and agreed before treatment.

Because every mouth is different, the most accurate comparison is a personalised quote based on your own scan. For a full cost comparison, see our guide to All-on-4 dental implants: Australia vs Vietnam.

Next Steps

To see how these options apply to your own teeth, you can review the Elite Dental price list, read more about dental implant treatment at Elite Dental, or request a free treatment plan with your most recent X-ray or CBCT. You can also call (+84) 28 7306 3838.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many trips does All-on-4 need? Usually two. The first trip, about 5 to 7 days, covers examination, any preparation, implant placement and a temporary bridge. The second, about 3 to 5 days, fits the final bridge, roughly 4 to 6 months later.

Will I have teeth between the two trips? A fixed temporary bridge is fitted so you do not leave without teeth. Your team confirms the timing during treatment.

What if I need extra procedures, like bone grafting? They are done before or alongside implant placement, usually in the first trip. Your plan and costs are explained before you decide, and may change after your 3D scan.

Can I do everything in one trip? The implants need months to integrate with the bone, so the final bridge is fitted after healing. A single trip does not give the implants enough time.

Can I plan my treatment before travelling? Yes. Elite Dental offers a free online consultation, and you can send your most recent X-ray or CBCT for a preliminary assessment. The final plan is confirmed after an in-person examination and scan.

To discuss your case, call (+84) 28 7306 3838 or send us your most recent X-ray through our contact form.

References

• Elite Dental Vietnam. All-on-4 dental implants: Australia vs Vietnam. https://elitedental.com.vn/en/all-on-4-dental-implants-australia-vs-vietnam-cost-quality-and-warranty.html
• Elite Dental Vietnam. 2026 All-on-4 price list. https://elitedental.com.vn/en/pricelist/dental-implant-pricelist
• American Accreditation Commission International (AACI). Accreditation Standards for Dental Facilities, Version 2.1.

Please note: This case study is intended for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Results and timelines vary from person to person, and the most suitable treatment can only be determined after an in-person consultation and a personalized assessment by a qualified dentist.