Preparing for Dental Implant Surgery

Dental implant surgery is straightforward as surgical procedures go, but preparation makes a real difference to comfort and outcome. Jordan rewrote this page after his dad’s experience — the things he wished someone had told them before, not after.

The weeks before: what to organise

4–6 weeks before

If you smoke, stop now. This is the single most important pre-op intervention. Smoking dramatically reduces implant integration. Most surgeons require a minimum of 2 weeks abstinence pre and post; longer is better.
Get your medical history together. Your dentist needs full disclosure of medications (especially blood thinners, bisphosphonates, immunosuppressants), conditions (diabetes, autoimmune disease) and previous adverse reactions to anaesthetics.
If you have uncontrolled diabetes, work with your GP to get HbA1c down to under 7% before surgery. Healing is significantly compromised above that.
If you’ve had IV bisphosphonate therapy (some osteoporosis treatments) or anti-angiogenic medication, declare it immediately. There’s a small but serious risk of osteonecrosis.

2 weeks before

Stop blood-thinning supplements if your surgeon advises — fish oil, vitamin E, ginkgo and high-dose turmeric can increase bleeding. Do not stop prescribed blood thinners without your GP’s approval.
Have a thorough scale and clean. A clean mouth heals better.
Stock the freezer — soft foods for the first week. Yoghurt, mashed potato, scrambled eggs, smoothies, soup.
Buy chlorhexidine mouthwash (Savacol or similar) — you’ll need it for the first 1–2 weeks.
Arrange a driver for the day of surgery if you’re having sedation.

The day before

Get a good night’s sleep — well-rested patients tolerate surgery better.
If having sedation, follow fasting instructions (typically nil by mouth from midnight).
If having local only, eat a normal breakfast 1–2 hours beforehand.
Avoid alcohol the day before — it impairs healing and amplifies post-op discomfort.

The day of surgery

Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes.
Skip makeup and contact lenses if you’re being sedated.
Bring a list of your current medications.
Arrive 15 minutes early to settle.
Plan to take the rest of the day off — even with local-only, you won’t want to be productive.

What actually happens during surgery

Local anaesthetic is administered — the numbing process feels like any other dental anaesthetic.
If sedation was chosen, you’ll be drowsy but conscious throughout (twilight sedation) or fully asleep (general anaesthetic, less common).
A small incision is made in the gum to expose the bone.
A pilot hole is drilled, then progressively widened to the final implant size — surgeons use guided templates and copious irrigation to keep the bone cool.
The titanium implant is placed and the gum closed over (or around) it with dissolving stitches.
You’re monitored for 15–30 minutes before being released.

Total chair time for a single implant: 60–90 minutes. For multiple implants or full-arch (All-on-4 etc.), 2–4 hours.

The first 48 hours

Bleeding — light oozing for the first few hours is normal. Bite gently on gauze pads supplied.
Swelling — peaks at 48–72 hours. Apply ice externally for 20-minute intervals during the first 24 hours.
Pain — mild to moderate, well-controlled with paracetamol and ibuprofen alternated. Stronger pain relief is rarely needed.
Diet — soft, cool foods for 24 hours; gradually expand. Avoid the surgical site when chewing.
No smoking, no alcohol, no straws (suction can dislodge clots).
Sleep with head elevated for 2–3 nights to reduce overnight swelling.

Week 1–2 recovery

Rinse with chlorhexidine mouthwash 2x daily, starting 24 hours after surgery — but don’t brush the surgical site for the first week.
Soft foods for the first week, expanding to normal consistency through week 2.
Stitches dissolve or are removed at the 7–10 day check.
Most patients return to work within 2–3 days for desk-based work; longer for physical work.
Avoid vigorous exercise for the first week — increased blood pressure can disturb the clot.

The osseointegration phase (months 1–6)

This is the hidden phase where bone grows around the implant. Externally everything looks healed within 2–3 weeks; internally, the integration takes 3–6 months. Don’t load the implant during this time — your dentist will provide a temporary tooth or denture if cosmetics matter.