Single dental implant
Day 0 (surgery day)
Local anesthetic and possibly sedation. Mild bleeding for several hours. Begin ice on/off, soft cold foods, prescribed analgesics.
Day 1 – 3
Peak swelling and soreness. Continue soft diet. Avoid straws, smoking, vigorous rinsing. Most patients take 1 – 2 days off work.
Day 4 – 7
Swelling and soreness improving. Most can return to non-strenuous work. Gentle saltwater rinses begin.
Week 2
Suture removal (if not dissolvable). Soft tissue largely healed on the surface.
Week 8 – 16
Osseointegration period. Implant fuses with bone. No visible changes — but biology is doing the work.
Month 3 – 4 (lower) / Month 4 – 6 (upper)
Restorative phase: abutment placement, impressions, final crown delivery.
Month 6+
Long-term maintenance: hygiene, annual review, periodic radiographs.
Full-arch (All-on-4 / All-on-6)
Day 0
Surgery with IV sedation or GA in many cases. Extractions, implant placement, immediate provisional bridge delivered same day.
Day 1 – 7
Significant swelling and bruising; soft/pureed diet; very limited chewing on the provisional. Multiple short follow-up visits.
Week 2 – 6
Soft-food phase. Provisional remains in place. Hygiene around the prosthesis is critical.
Month 3 – 4
Begin transition toward firmer foods as healing allows.
Month 4 – 6
Final impressions and try-ins. Final zirconia or hybrid prosthesis delivered.
Ongoing
Annual hygiene, occlusal checks, prosthesis maintenance every 6 – 12 months.
Porcelain veneers
Visit 1 — Consult
Photographs, scan or impressions, smile analysis, mock-up preview.
Visit 2 — Preparation
Enamel reduction (for traditional veneers), final impression, provisional veneers placed.
1 – 3 weeks (lab time)
Lab fabricates the porcelain veneers. You wear provisionals.
Visit 3 — Try-in & delivery
Try-in, color and fit confirmed, veneers bonded. Some sensitivity for several days is normal.
First week
Mild sensitivity to cold and pressure. Soft diet for 24 – 48 hours after bonding.
Ongoing
Routine hygiene, avoid biting hard objects, nightguard if any clenching/grinding.
Bone graft and sinus lift recovery
Soft-tissue recovery is similar to implant surgery (1 – 2 weeks). Bone maturation before implant placement takes 4 – 9 months depending on graft type and size. Sinus lifts add post-op instructions around nose blowing, sneezing with mouth open, and avoiding air travel for at least 1 – 2 weeks. See the bone grafting guide for detail.
Warning signs at any stage
- Fever above 38.5°C / 101.3°F.
- Pain worsening rather than improving after day 3.
- Spreading swelling, difficulty swallowing, or difficulty breathing.
- Persistent bleeding beyond 24 hours.
- Numbness in the lip, chin, or tongue that does not improve.
- Bad taste or pus discharge from the surgical site.
Any of these warrants contacting your surgeon promptly.