Do dental implants hurt?
Placing a dental implant is done under local anaesthetic, so you should not feel pain during it — pressure and movement, yes, but not pain. Most patients tell us afterwards that it was less uncomfortable than they expected and less uncomfortable than having a tooth taken out. The soreness comes later: typically two to five days of ache and swelling that ordinary over-the-counter painkillers handle.
Written and reviewed by Dr Ali El-Kabengi (GDC 270807), principal dentist at Toothi London, 1 Handel Parade, Edgware HA8 6LD, who has a special interest in implant dentistry. Fees correct as of September 2026. Individual experience varies.
What the appointment is actually like
Most people’s fear is of the unknown rather than of pain they have experienced, so here is the whole thing in order.
- Numbing. The same local anaesthetic used for a filling, given in the same way. This is the only part involving a needle, and it is over in under a minute.
- Waiting for it to work. A few minutes. We check the area is properly numb before anything else happens, and we check again if you are unsure.
- Opening the gum. A small incision to expose the bone. You will feel the gum being moved, not cut.
- Preparing the site. The bone is shaped to take the implant using a sequence of small drills. This is the noisy part, and the part most people brace for — but bone has no pain nerves of the kind that register drilling, and the surrounding tissue is numb. You feel vibration and pressure.
- Placing the implant. The implant is screwed into position. Firm pressure, no sharpness.
- Closing. A few stitches, often dissolvable. Five minutes.
A single implant typically takes around an hour from sitting down to standing up. The drilling itself is a small fraction of that.
The days afterwards, honestly
| When | What most people experience |
| The first few hours | Numbness wearing off. Take painkillers before it does rather than waiting for the ache to arrive. |
| Day 1–2 | The most sore period. Aching rather than sharp pain, some swelling, sometimes bruising. Most people take the day off and manage on over-the-counter painkillers. |
| Day 3–5 | Settling. Swelling peaks around day two or three and then goes down. Many people are back to normal eating on the other side. |
| Week 1–2 | Comfortable. Stitches dissolve or are removed. Mild tenderness if you press the area. |
| Weeks to months | The implant integrates with the bone. This part is silent — you feel nothing at all while it happens. |
Use the painkillers you would normally take for a headache, following the instructions on the packet and any specific advice given to you on the day. An ice pack against the cheek for the first day helps with swelling. Avoid smoking — it interferes with healing and raises the risk of the implant failing — and avoid rinsing vigorously for the first 24 hours.
What is not normal
Discomfort that is improving day by day is expected. Ring us on 020 3148 2444 if you get any of the following:
- Pain that is getting worse after day three rather than better
- Swelling that is increasing after day three, or spreading across the face or into the neck
- Bleeding that does not stop with steady pressure
- A fever, or feeling generally unwell
- Numbness in the lip or chin that is still there once the anaesthetic should have worn off
- The implant feeling loose or moving
Difficulty breathing or swallowing, or swelling that is closing the eye or spreading down the neck, is a medical emergency — go to A&E rather than waiting for a dental appointment.
If you are anxious about it
Dental anxiety is common and it is not something to apologise for. Tell us at the consultation rather than on the day, because it changes how we run the appointment rather than whether we can treat you.
What helps most patients, in our experience: knowing exactly what is going to happen and in what order, agreeing a stop signal before we begin so you are in control of the pace, having the numbness checked and re-checked before anything starts, and breaking treatment into shorter appointments rather than one long one. Bring headphones and something to listen to if that helps.
We do not provide IV sedation. If you have been told you need sedation to be treated, we will say so at the consultation and refer you on to a colleague who provides it rather than pressing ahead. Our guide on what to expect if you are nervous about the dentist covers the first visit in more detail.
How it compares with treatments you have had
| Treatment | How it typically compares |
| Filling | Similar during, much less afterwards. A filling has no healing period. |
| Tooth extraction | Most patients report implant placement as the easier of the two, both during and afterwards. |
| Surgical or wisdom tooth extraction | Noticeably easier than a difficult wisdom tooth, which tends to involve more swelling and a longer recovery. |
| Root canal treatment | Comparable on the day. Implant placement has more aching afterwards; root canal treatment has more tenderness on biting. |
What it costs
A single dental implant at Toothi is a fixed £1,995 including the crown — the Osstem implant, the abutment, a porcelain crown and every review appointment. The CBCT 3D scan needed before placement is taken at a referral imaging centre and paid to them directly, so it is not included in the £1,995.
| New implant consultation — includes a written plan | Free |
| Single tooth implant including crown | £1,995 |
| Second implant placed at the same visit | £1,795 |
| CBCT 3D scan — at a referral imaging centre, paid to them directly | Not included |
Every figure is published on our fees page. See also how long dental implants last, our dental implants page and the implant cost guide.
Common questions
Will I be awake during it?
Yes. Implant placement is done under local anaesthetic with you awake and able to talk to us throughout, exactly as you would be for a filling. You can raise a hand to stop at any point.
How long does the pain last?
For most people the sore period is two to five days, worst on day one or two, and manageable with over-the-counter painkillers. By the end of the first week it is usually just mild tenderness. Pain that is worsening after day three is a reason to call us rather than to wait it out.
Can I go back to work the next day?
Many people do, particularly for a single implant and a desk job. It is sensible to keep the day of surgery and ideally the day after clear, and to avoid heavy exercise for a few days. If you have a physically demanding job, plan for a little longer.
Does the bone drilling hurt?
No — this is the part people dread most and report as the least eventful. The site is fully numb and bone does not carry the kind of nerve endings that register drilling as pain. What you notice is vibration, pressure and noise. The drills are used at low speed with constant irrigation, which also keeps the bone cool.
Book a free implant consultation · WhatsApp us · 020 3148 2444
0% interest-free finance is available over up to 10 months, or low-interest finance over up to 60 months at 12.9% APR representative (fixed), on treatment over £250. Cherry Dental Ltd trading as Toothi is a credit broker, not a lender, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 957242). Credit is provided by Tabeo, subject to status. All fees are confirmed in a written treatment plan before any treatment begins.
