Placing a dental implant is a routine procedure for an experienced team, but it is completely normal to wonder what the day itself will look like, especially if you are having treatment far from home. Knowing what is coming tends to make everything feel calmer. This guide walks you through the whole day, from the preparations in the days before to the first evening on your sofa, and also covers the first days of healing and the journey home. Every patient and every treatment plan is a little different, so your dentist's personal instructions always come first. Think of this article as a general map rather than a rulebook.
A quick word on what an implant is
A dental implant replaces the root of a missing tooth. It has three parts. The implant itself is a small screw-shaped post, usually made of titanium or a similar body-friendly material, that is placed in the jawbone. On top of it sits the abutment, a connector that rises through the gum. Finally, the crown is the visible tooth that is fixed to the abutment. On surgery day, the focus is usually on the first part only: placing the post in the bone. The abutment and crown normally follow later, once the bone has had time to grow around the implant.
In some cases the dentist also carries out additional work in the same session, such as removing a tooth or adding bone graft material where the bone is thin. If this applies to you, it will have been discussed as part of your treatment plan, and some of the details below, such as healing times, may be a little different for you.
In the days before your surgery
Consultation and 3D scan
Before the procedure, your dentist reviews your 3D scan and your medical history and goes through the plan with you. A 3D scan of the jaw shows the height and width of the bone and the position of nearby structures such as nerves and the sinuses, which helps the dentist choose the right implant size and position. This is also the best moment to ask your questions: how many implants are planned, whether any extra procedures are needed, what kind of anaesthesia will be used and what the next stages of treatment will look like.
Your medical history and medicines
Be as complete as you can about your health. Tell your dentist about any medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart problems, osteoporosis or conditions that affect your immune system, as well as any allergies and any previous reactions to anaesthesia. Bring a list of all the medicines you take, including vitamins, supplements and herbal products.
If you take blood thinners or other medicines that affect bleeding or bone, mention them early. Never stop or change any medication on your own. If an adjustment is needed, your dentist may coordinate with your doctor, but in many cases the medication is simply continued as usual. If you have been prescribed antibiotics or a mouthwash to start before the surgery, follow those instructions exactly.
Smoking and alcohol
Smoking reduces blood flow in the gums and can slow down healing, so it is widely recommended to stop, or at least cut down, well before the surgery and to stay away from cigarettes while you heal. If you smoke, ask your dentist how long before and after the procedure you should avoid it. It is also sensible to avoid alcohol in the day or two before surgery unless your dentist tells you otherwise.
Arranging someone to accompany you
If you will be having sedation, you will need someone to take you back to your hotel or home afterwards and, ideally, to stay with you for the rest of the day. Even with local anaesthesia alone, many patients appreciate having a companion. If you are travelling for treatment, plan a quiet day after the surgery rather than sightseeing or a long journey.
The morning of the procedure
Eat a light meal beforehand unless you have been told otherwise. With local anaesthesia alone, a normal light breakfast is usually encouraged, because you will not feel like chewing for a while afterwards. If you are having sedation, your dentist may ask you not to eat or drink for a certain number of hours before; in that case, follow those instructions carefully. Take your usual medicines as agreed with your dentist.
Brush your teeth and clean between them thoroughly, so you start with a clean mouth. Wear comfortable, loose clothing with sleeves that can easily be rolled up in case your blood pressure is checked or sedation is given. Leave off make-up, especially lipstick, and take out contact lenses if you are having sedation. Try to arrive a little early so that you do not feel rushed.
Useful things to bring with you:
- Your list of medicines and any recent medical reports
- Your glasses, if you normally wear contact lenses and are having sedation
- Any prescriptions or instructions the clinic sent you in advance
- A scarf or light jacket, as treatment rooms can feel cool
- Headphones with music or a podcast, if that helps you relax
- The phone numbers of your companion and of your accommodation
At the clinic: the procedure itself
Anaesthesia and sedation
The area is numbed with local anaesthesia, the same type of numbing used for a filling, usually just a little more of it. The dentist waits until the area is completely numb before starting and can add more at any point if you feel anything sharp. For patients who feel anxious, or who are having a longer procedure, sedation may be offered. Depending on the type, sedation makes you feel relaxed and drowsy, and some people remember little of the procedure afterwards. Your dentist will explain which options are suitable for you and what each one involves.
What you will feel and hear
Thanks to the anaesthesia, you feel pressure and vibration, but not pain. The dentist makes a small opening in the gum, prepares a precise space in the bone with a sequence of instruments and places the implant in the jawbone. You may hear the sound of the drill and feel firm pressure as the implant is seated, which can be surprising but is perfectly normal. Finally, the gum is closed, often with a few stitches, and sometimes a small healing cap is left visible just above the gum.
You can raise your hand at any time if you need a break, want to swallow or feel uncomfortable. Agreeing on this signal before you start often helps you feel more in control, and the team will check in with you regularly as they work.
How long it takes
A single implant often takes under an hour; several implants, or procedures combined with bone grafting or extractions, take longer. Allow some extra time for preparation beforehand and a short rest afterwards. Your dentist can give you a realistic estimate for your own plan.
Right after the procedure and the first 24 hours
Gauze, numbness and instructions
When the procedure is over, you will usually be asked to bite gently but firmly on a piece of gauze for a while to help a blood clot form. The numbness generally wears off over the next few hours. Until it does, avoid hot drinks and chewing, because it is easy to bite your cheek, lip or tongue without noticing. If you had sedation, you will rest at the clinic until you are steady enough to leave with your companion, and you should not drive, operate machinery or make important decisions for the rest of the day.
Before you leave, the team will explain how to care for the area and give you written aftercare instructions and any prescriptions. Keep these somewhere easy to find, and do not hesitate to ask the same question twice. It is a lot of information at a moment when you may be feeling tired.
The first evening and night
- Some oozing and pink-tinged saliva are normal on the first day; if bleeding is more noticeable, bite on fresh gauze for around 30 minutes
- Expect some swelling and tenderness, usually at its peak in the first two to three days
- Hold a cold pack wrapped in a cloth against your cheek in short intervals, for example 15 to 20 minutes on, then a break
- Keep your head slightly raised with an extra pillow when you rest and sleep
- Do not rinse, spit forcefully or drink through a straw on the first day, as pressure and suction can disturb the healing blood clot
- Don't smoke and avoid alcohol while the area heals
- Rest, and avoid sport, heavy lifting and bending over for a few days
- Try not to touch the area with your tongue or fingers, or pull your lip to look at it
Mild bruising on the cheek or jaw can appear a day or two later, particularly after more extensive work. It may look dramatic, but it is usually harmless and fades over a week or so.
Eating, drinking and oral hygiene in the first days
What to eat
Eat soft, lukewarm food and chew on the other side. Drink plenty of water, but avoid very hot drinks on the first day, and keep away from crunchy, sticky, spicy and very hard foods until your dentist says otherwise. Good options for the first days include:
- Yogurt, soft cheese and smoothies eaten with a spoon
- Lukewarm soups and broths
- Mashed potatoes, puréed vegetables and soft-cooked pasta
- Scrambled eggs and omelettes
- Porridge and other soft cereals
- Soft fish, hummus and well-cooked lentils
- Bananas, stewed apples and other soft fruit
Avoid seeds, nuts, popcorn and small grains that can lodge near the wound. Most people gradually return to their normal diet over one to two weeks, while still avoiding biting hard on the implant area until the final crown is in place.
Keeping the area clean
Good hygiene supports healing, but in the first days it needs a gentle touch. You can usually brush your other teeth as normal from the evening of the surgery or the next day, using a soft brush and taking care around the surgical area. From the second day, your dentist may recommend gentle rinses with warm salt water or a prescribed antiseptic mouthwash, especially after meals. Let the liquid flow over the area and then out of your mouth rather than swishing hard. Do not use an electric toothbrush, water flosser or interdental brushes right next to the implant until your dentist tells you it is fine.
Pain, medication and the recovery timeline
Managing discomfort
Many people describe the discomfort after a single implant as milder than they expected, often similar to having a tooth removed. It is usually strongest in the first two or three days and then steadily improves. Take any medicines exactly as prescribed, whether painkillers, anti-inflammatories or antibiotics. If your dentist recommends it, taking pain relief before the numbness wears off often makes the first evening more comfortable. Do not combine medicines or take more than prescribed, and if you have been given antibiotics, finish the full course even when you feel well.
What the coming weeks and months look like
- The first few days: swelling and tenderness reach their peak and then begin to settle
- The first week: you feel noticeably better, and many people return to desk work and light activities within a few days
- After one to two weeks: stitches are removed, or dissolve on their own if dissolvable ones were used
- The following months: the bone gradually bonds with the implant, a process called osseointegration, which often takes around three to six months depending on your bone and the location
- During healing: in many cases you can wear a temporary tooth or denture, so you do not have to go without teeth
- The final stage: once the implant is stable, the abutment and final crown are fitted, usually over one or more later visits
For patients travelling from abroad, this often means two separate trips: one for the surgery and another, a few months later, for the final teeth. Your dentist will plan these visits with you and tell you what to expect at each stage.
Warning signs: when to contact the clinic
Healing usually goes smoothly, but it is important to know which signs need attention. Contact the clinic if:
- Bleeding doesn't slow down despite firm pressure on gauze for 30 minutes or more
- Swelling keeps increasing after the third day instead of going down
- You have a fever or feel generally unwell
- Pain gets worse after the first few days rather than better
- You notice pus, a persistent bad taste or an unpleasant smell from the area
- Numbness or tingling in your lip, chin or tongue continues long after the anaesthesia should have worn off
- The implant or healing cap feels loose, or stitches come out much earlier than expected
If you have difficulty breathing or swallowing, or swelling that spreads quickly, seek emergency medical care straight away. For everything else, a quick message or call is always fine. We'd rather hear from you early, even if it turns out to be nothing, than have you worry on your own.
Travelling home after implant surgery
If you have come from abroad, plan your return journey together with your dentist. Many dentists recommend staying nearby for at least a few days after surgery, so that the area can be checked before you leave and any questions can be answered in person. Ask your dentist when it is safe for you to fly. After a straightforward implant, flying is often possible within a few days, but if the implant is in the upper jaw close to the sinus, or if a sinus lift was performed, your dentist may advise you to wait longer and to avoid blowing your nose forcefully because of the pressure changes involved.
- Keep your aftercare instructions, prescriptions and the clinic's contact details in your hand luggage
- Pack a few soft snacks and a bottle of water for the journey
- Ask the cabin crew for some ice wrapped in a napkin if swelling bothers you
- Drink plenty of water and move around regularly on longer flights
- Arrange check-ups during healing, either at the clinic or with your dentist at home, as your dentist advises
Implant day is usually much calmer than people imagine, and a little preparation goes a long way. If you have questions about your own treatment, whether about anaesthesia, recovery or planning your trip, feel free to get in touch. Our team is happy to talk you through what applies to your situation before you make any decisions.
