Last updated: September 2026
The surgery itself is usually shorter than people expect. The recovery is usually longer than people expect, not because of pain but because of bone biology. Most of the healing happens invisibly, deep in the jaw, and understanding what is going on at each stage makes the process less unsettling.
Implant placement is typically done under local anaesthetic. The gum is opened, a series of precisely sized holes are drilled into the jawbone, and the titanium fixture is placed. The gum is then closed over or around the fixture. The whole procedure for a single implant usually takes 30 to 60 minutes.
You will leave the practice with numbness still wearing off. You will have been given or prescribed pain relief and possibly antibiotics. A gauze pad may be placed over the site to control any oozing.
For the rest of that day: rest, ice the outside of the cheek in twenty-minute intervals, avoid hot food and drinks, and do not rinse your mouth vigorously. The blood clot forming at the site is important for healing and you do not want to dislodge it.
Swelling typically peaks around 48 to 72 hours after surgery. This is normal. Your cheek may be visibly swollen on the side of the implant, and the area will be tender to touch. Some bruising is possible, particularly if the procedure involved the lower jaw.
Pain during this period is usually manageable with ibuprofen or paracetamol, or a combination as directed. If your dentist prescribed stronger pain relief, use it as directed for the first day or two and step down to over-the-counter options as the discomfort eases.
You can brush your other teeth normally but avoid the surgical site. A gentle warm saltwater rinse (from day two onwards) helps keep the area clean without disturbing it.
Swelling reduces. Discomfort fades to mild tenderness. If sutures were placed, they are usually removed around seven to fourteen days after surgery, or they may dissolve on their own depending on the type used.
Most people return to work within one to two days for desk-based jobs. If your work is physically demanding, warehouse shifts or construction in the industrial areas around Bayswater and Kilsyth, for example, you may want three to four days. Heavy lifting increases blood pressure and can cause bleeding or throbbing at the surgical site.
Exercise follows a similar principle. Walking is fine from day two. Gym sessions, running and contact sport should wait at least a week, longer if the procedure was more extensive or involved grafting.
For the first week, stick to soft foods that do not require much chewing:
Avoid anything crunchy (nuts, chips, raw carrots), chewy (steak, crusty bread), very hot, or spicy. These can irritate the site, dislodge the clot, or get stuck in the healing tissue.
By week two, you can start reintroducing firmer foods on the opposite side of the mouth. Full normal eating usually resumes by three to four weeks, depending on comfort.
This is where most people forget they have an implant. The surgical site has closed, the discomfort is gone, and you are eating normally. But underneath the gum, the most important part of the process is happening.
The titanium fixture is not glued into the bone. It relies on the bone growing directly onto its surface and forming a biological bond. This process, osseointegration, is what turns a foreign object into a permanent part of your jaw.
It takes time because bone cells work slowly. In a healthy lower jaw with good bone density, integration typically takes three to four months. In the upper jaw, where bone is usually less dense, it can take four to six months. If a bone graft was placed, add time for the graft to consolidate before the implant can bear load.
During this period, the implant must not be loaded with chewing forces. If a temporary tooth is placed for cosmetic reasons (common in the front of the mouth), it is designed not to contact the opposing teeth. Loading the fixture before integration is complete is the fastest way to cause failure.
Once the dentist is satisfied that integration is complete, usually confirmed by clinical testing and sometimes a follow-up X-ray, the final stage begins. The gum over the implant is opened (or was left open with a healing cap in place), an abutment is fitted onto the fixture, and a digital scan is taken to design the crown.
At Divine Dental Care, the scan is done with an intraoral scanner rather than traditional putty impressions. The crown is then made and fitted, either milled in-house for same-day cases or sent to a dental laboratory for more complex restorations.
Once the crown is cemented or screwed into place, treatment is complete. The whole process, from placement to final crown, typically spans three to six months.
Some discomfort and swelling are expected. These are not normal and should prompt a phone call:
Most of these are uncommon. But knowing what is not normal means you act early if something does go wrong, and early intervention almost always produces a better outcome.
The practical reality for most patients in the Croydon, Ringwood and Mooroolbark area is that life does not stop for dental surgery. You have work, school runs, commutes to the CBD, and weekend commitments.
A single implant placement is a day procedure. Most people drive themselves home (local anaesthetic, not sedation) and are back at their desk or behind the counter the next day. The follow-up appointments over the subsequent months are short check-ins, not lengthy procedures, and we schedule them around work hours including Saturday mornings.
For patients who prefer sedation, we offer that option as well. Our sedation page covers what is available. If sedation is used, you will need someone to drive you home and should plan on resting for the remainder of the day.
If you are considering an implant and want to understand what the process would look like for your specific case, the starting point is an assessment with cone beam CT imaging, which we do on site. Full details on the procedure are on our dental implants page.
Call (03) 9725 8040 or book online. We are at 59 Wicklow Ave, Croydon, close to Croydon station on the Lilydale line.
This article describes a typical implant recovery for a straightforward single placement. Your experience may differ depending on the complexity of your case, whether grafting was involved, and your individual healing. Your dentist will provide specific post-operative instructions.