Do dental implants hurt?
An implant is placed under local anaesthetic, so you shouldn’t feel pain while it’s done. You’ll feel pressure and movement, but not pain. Most patients tell us afterwards it was easier than they expected, and easier than having a tooth out. The soreness comes later: usually two to five days of ache and swelling that ordinary over-the-counter painkillers deal with.
Toothi London, 1 Handel Parade, Edgware HA8 6LD. Fees correct as of September 2026. Individual experience varies.
What the appointment is actually like
Most people are worried about the unknown more than about any pain they’ve actually had. So here’s the whole thing, in order.
- Numbing. The same local anaesthetic we use for a filling, given the same way. It’s the only part with a needle, and it’s 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 check again if you’re not sure.
- Opening the gum. A small incision to expose the bone. You’ll feel the gum being moved, not cut.
- Preparing the site. We shape the bone to take the implant with a sequence of small drills. This is the noisy bit, and the bit most people brace for. Bone doesn’t have the kind of pain nerves that register drilling, though, and the tissue around it is numb. You feel vibration and pressure.
- Placing the implant. The implant is screwed into position. Firm pressure, nothing sharp.
- Closing. A few stitches, often dissolvable. Five minutes.
A single implant usually takes around an hour from sitting down to standing up. The drilling is a small part of that.
The days afterwards
| When | What most people experience |
| The first few hours | The numbness wears off. Take painkillers before it does, rather than waiting for the ache. |
| Day 1–2 | The sorest stretch. An ache rather than sharp pain, some swelling, sometimes bruising. Most people take the day off and get by on over-the-counter painkillers. |
| Day 3–5 | Settling down. Swelling peaks around day two or three, then goes down. Plenty of people are eating normally again by the end of it. |
| Week 1–2 | Comfortable. Stitches dissolve or come out. A bit tender if you press on it. |
| Weeks to months | The implant fuses with the bone. You don’t feel any of this. |
Take whatever you’d normally take for a headache, following the packet and any advice we give you on the day. An ice pack against the cheek on the first day helps the swelling. Don’t smoke: it slows healing and makes the implant more likely to fail. And don’t rinse hard for the first 24 hours.
What is not normal
Discomfort that gets a little better each day is expected. Ring us on 020 3148 2444 if you have any of these:
- Pain that’s getting worse after day three, not better
- Swelling that’s increasing after day three, or spreading across the face or into the neck
- Bleeding that won’t stop with steady pressure
- A fever, or feeling generally unwell
- Numbness in the lip or chin that’s still there after the anaesthetic should have worn off
- The implant feeling loose or moving
Trouble breathing or swallowing, or swelling that’s closing the eye or spreading down the neck, is a medical emergency. Go to A&E; don’t wait for a dental appointment.
If you are anxious about it
Lots of people are nervous of the dentist, and you don’t need to apologise for it. Tell us at the consultation rather than on the day. It changes how we run the appointment, not whether we can treat you.
In our experience, what helps most is knowing exactly what’s going to happen and in what order. We agree a stop signal before we start, so you set the pace. We check the numbness, then check it again. And we can split treatment into shorter appointments instead of one long one. Bring headphones and something to listen to if that helps.
We don’t provide IV sedation. If you’ve been told you need sedation to be treated, we’ll say so at the consultation and refer you on to a colleague who offers 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 usually compares |
| Filling | Similar on the day, much less afterwards. A filling has no healing period. |
| Tooth extraction | Most patients say the implant was the easier of the two, on the day and afterwards. |
| Surgical or wisdom tooth extraction | Noticeably easier than a difficult wisdom tooth, which tends to mean more swelling and a longer recovery. |
| Root canal treatment | About the same on the day. An implant aches more afterwards; root canal treatment is more tender to bite on. |
What it costs
A single dental implant at Toothi is a fixed £1,995 including the crown. That covers the Osstem implant, the abutment, a porcelain crown and every review appointment. The CBCT 3D scan you need before placement is taken at a referral imaging centre and paid to them directly, so it isn’t part of 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.
Dental implant results from our patients
Missing teeth replaced with implants at Toothi in Edgware.
Photos of our own patients, shared with their consent. Individual results vary.
See our dental implant page →Common questions
Will I be awake during it?
Yes. It’s done under local anaesthetic, with you awake and able to talk to us the whole time, just like a filling. Raise a hand and we’ll stop.
How long does the pain last?
For most people it’s sore for two to five days, worst on day one or two, and over-the-counter painkillers keep it manageable. By the end of the first week it’s usually just a bit tender. If the pain is getting worse after day three, call us rather than waiting it out.
Can I go back to work the next day?
Many people do, especially after a single implant with a desk job. It’s sensible to keep the day of surgery free, and ideally the day after, and to skip heavy exercise for a few days. If your job is physical, allow a bit longer.
Does the bone drilling hurt?
No. It’s the part people dread most, and the part they say was least eventful. The area is fully numb, and bone doesn’t have the kind of nerve endings that register drilling as pain. You notice vibration, pressure and noise. We drill at low speed with a constant flow of water, which also keeps the bone cool.
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0% interest-free finance is available over up to 10 months, or longer-term 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.
