Einheilzeit

Einheilzeit is a German term used primarily in medicine and dentistry to describe the period required for a foreign body, implant, or graft to become integrated with surrounding tissue and to regain stability. The word combines ein (in, into), heil (healing or integration), and zeit (time). In clinical contexts it is often translated as healing time or integration period.

In dentistry and implantology, the Einheilzeit refers to the time needed for osseointegration and soft-tissue adaptation after placement of a dental implant or after a surgical graft, before final loading with a prosthesis. The duration varies with the site, patient health, and implant characteristics. Typical ranges are several weeks to months; implants in the jawbone commonly require approximately 3–6 months for the mandible and up to 6–8 months for the maxilla, though advances in surface technology and patient factors can shorten or lengthen this period. During the Einheilzeit the area is monitored for stability, absence of infection, and adequate integration radiographically and clinically.

In orthopedics and other surgical fields, the term can describe the healing or integration period after implantation of prostheses, bone grafts, or fixation devices, as well as tissue- or bone-bonding processes. The duration is influenced by patient age, metabolic conditions, smoking, medication, graft type, and mechanical loading.

Outside biology, related terms describe curing or setting times for adhesives and construction materials, where a similar concept denotes the period required for bonding or material hardening.