How Long Does it Take to Recover from Dental Implants?

By: Dr. Jesse Feuerstein, DMD

Dental implants are one of the best ways to restore your smile and confidence. But just how long does it take to recover from dental implants? The process has different phases, each with its own recovery period.

• First, the implant post is placed, followed by one to two weeks of recovery.
• Then, the bone will heal around the implant for the next three to four months
• Finally, the crown is placed by your dentist, with no significant recovery needed.

From start to finish, the typical time for dental implants (including recovery) can take between three to four months, from dental implant placement to crown restoration. Some cases can be accelerated, ask us how! At Bergen Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, we offer Platelet Rich Fibrin injections to help accelerate healing from oral surgery. 

Understanding the Process of Recovering from Dental Implants

Dental implants are implantable titanium posts that are surgically inserted into the upper or lower jaw bones. Once the post is well-healed, a prosthetic tooth can be placed on top.

The dental implant process typically requires three phases: surgical placement of the implant, osseointegration, and restoration. Osseointegration is the healing of the bone around the implant, and restoration involves the final prosthetic missing tooth.

Before getting dental implants, we will discuss any existing concerns. For patients with bone loss, augmenting your existing bone may also be recommended. Bone grafts are commonly used to increase the availability of your bone mass, helping to ensure that the implant has enough room to attach securely for a long-term result.

Related: Can You Get Dental Implants with Bone Loss?

When the implant is placed, a cover screw or healing abutment will be placed. A cover screw will allow for the gums to heal over the implant, in which case a small surgery is needed to place the healing abutment at the conclusion of your 3-4 month osseointegration phase. The healing abutment will then connect the implant fixture that is fused to the bone with a prosthetic tooth, taking you into the restoration phase of your dental implant with your dentist. Recovery from abutment installation is minor.

The final step to dental implants is the placement of a crown. A crown requires little-to-no recovery time. Once it is placed by your dentist, you can begin to show off your brand new smile and eat some steak.

What to Expect the First 24-48 Hours After the Dental Implant is Placed

For the first couple of days after your dental implant surgery, you are likely to experience mild swelling, minimal bleeding, and 1-2 days of soreness which is well-controlled with over-the-counter pain medication. 

Proper care of your oral hygiene and your implants is critical through this initial recovery phase and beyond. It’s important to let yourself rest during the first 24 hours while you are recovering from dental implant surgery, avoiding strenuous work and other activities. A soft-food diet, ice packs, and medication can help to ease any post-surgery discomfort.

Smoking is particularly advised against after dental implant surgery. Smoking, drinking alcohol, and not performing basic hygiene to care for your implants increases the risk of complications, infection, and implant failure.

Caring for your mouth:

• Wait 24 hours after surgery to brush your teeth.
• In the first 24 hours, you can rinse your mouth with warm salt water but do not use mouthwash.
• Follow our instructions for aftercare, including changing your gauze as needed to manage bleeding.
• Apply ice to the outside of your mouth as needed to reduce swelling. 

What to eat after dental implant surgery:

• After surgery, avoid hot and spicy foods that may irritate your mouth and gums.
• Also avoid using a straw, which can cause an increase in bleeding.
• Other things to avoid include:
  • Carbonated beverages
  • Alcohol
  • Highly acidic food and drinks
  • Hard or rough foods
  • Anything difficult to chew
• Soft foods are best during your recovery, including:
  • Applesauce
  • Smoothies
  • Mashed potatoes
  • Scrambled eggs
  • Ice cream
  • Blended soups
  • Cottage cheese
  • Oatmeal
  • Fish
  • Beans
  • Avocado

Taking medication:

• Before surgery, make sure we know about any other medications you are currently taking.
• If we prescribe pain medication, you can take them in the first few days after surgery.
• Over-the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen are typically enough to help with pain management. These will be taken as directed by your surgeon.

Recovering from local anesthesia:

• Dental implant surgery often requires only local anesthesia +/- nitrous oxide (laughing gas). With local anesthesia and laughing gas, you are safe to drive home after your implant surgery. 
• Every patient is different, however, and if IV sedation is recommended, you will need a ride home and may need general assistance during the first 24 hours.

48-72 Hours After the Dental Implant is Placed

Two to three days after surgery, the surgical site may feel tender and bleeding will have stopped. You’ll want to continue to avoid hard-to-chew foods, strenuous activities, and smoking. However, you are able to go back to work and move onto foods with a little more substance, as long as your pain levels allow.

Ways to support dental implant healing in the 2-3 days after surgery include:

• Alternating warm and cold compresses to reduce discomfort and swelling.
• Gently brushing your teeth and using a salt water rinse daily to maintain good oral hygiene.
• Following all instructions from your surgeon.
• Continuing to rest to allow your body to recover.

5 Days and More Post Dental Implant Surgery

Five days after your dental implant surgery, your tenderness will be reduced. You should be experiencing less pain, bleeding, and swelling will be improving—if not, give your oral surgeon a call. 

After a week, you may be able to resume normal activities, such as going to the gym, although most patients will want to take it easy in their first session back.

Because the soft tissues of your mouth heal relatively quickly, many people feel that they’ve fully recovered from their dental implant surgery within a month. Under the surface, the process is only just beginning; during the three to four months after implantation, your jaw bone will begin to fuse around the implant. This process is called osseointegration, and it is how the implant becomes securely anchored in the jaw bone.

Good oral care, treating your teeth and gums gently, and avoiding smoking are all essential throughout the initial osseointegration period. Your surgeon may request regular check-ups to assess your progress, using a number of tests to determine when your implant is ready for the next phases of abutment placement and, finally, full restoration.

Factors Influencing Recovery Time from Dental Implant Surgery

How long does it take to recover from dental implants? The exact time needed for recovery from dental implant surgery depends on a number of factors. As such, it’s different for every person.

Your recovery time will likely depend on:

• The number of implants placed (more implants require more recovery time)
• If additional procedures are needed, such as bone grafting
• Your overall health
• How closely you follow your post-operative instructions

As noted above, we will closely monitor your healing process, making recommendations as needed to aid in your recovery.

How Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF) Accelerates Healing

Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF) is part of an emerging technology that uses your body’s own resources to support your healing. PRF has been widely used throughout medicine for the past 15 years, and studies support its wide range of cosmetic and medical purposes, from rejuvenating your skin to helping wounds heal faster.

But how do we get PRF? PRF is created using your own blood. We draw a small amount of blood and then separate it into different layers using a centrifuge. The cell-rich layers are then applied to your surgical site to promote healing, and to decrease swelling and pain. 

Benefits of PRF in Dental Implant Recovery

At Bergen Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, we use PRF to offer a number of benefits while you are recovering from dental implants.

The benefits of PRF injections in dental implant recovery include:

• Faster healing of the gums and soft tissues
• Lower risk of infection 
• Reduced pain and swelling

Because PRF uses your own blood, there is also less risk of allergic reactions or negative side effects, as there can be with synthetic medications and products.

Experience Faster Healing from Dental Implant Surgery with Advanced PRF Technology

The expert team at Bergen Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery has been providing excellent oral care to Bergen County for more than 70 years, but we’re always striving to serve you better with emerging technologies such as the application of PRF to all of our surgical procedures. 

Our four locations in Franklin Lakes, Hackensack, Ridgewood, and Westwood have a combined total of 2,000+ Google reviews and a near perfect five-star rating. We’ve worked hard to earn those reviews along with the trust of our patients, helping them to feel comfortable throughout their dental implant journey.

If you’re struggling with missing teeth, call us to schedule a consultation. Our team of oral surgeons is ready to help you regain your smile and your confidence. To learn more, call or text us at (201) 477-2667 or request an appointment online.

About Dr. Jesse Feuerstein, DMD

Dr. Jesse Feuerstein, a Bergen County native, combines advanced expertise in Oral Surgery with a compassionate approach to patient care. A graduate of Rutgers University and Tufts University, he completed his residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Saint Joseph’s University Medical Center, where he served as Chief Resident. Dr. Feuerstein’s specialized interests include dentoalveolar surgery, TMJ disorders, and pre-prosthetic implant surgery, utilizing state-of-the-art technology like 3D printing for precise surgical planning. Committed to creating a comfortable and positive experience, Dr. Feuerstein is proud to continue the tradition of excellence at Bergen Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery.