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Procedure & recovery · Sunbury VIC 3429
The dental implant procedure, no jargon
Four unhurried steps over three to six months. Most of that time is quiet healing, not appointments. Here is the whole journey, mapped out plainly, so nothing about it stays a mystery.
Start to finish
The procedure, step by step
01
Consultation and 3D scan
1 visit · free
A free examination and a 3D (CBCT) scan map your bone, the nerve and the sinus, so the plan is built on facts rather than guesswork. You leave with a written treatment plan, a fixed quote, and an honest answer — yes, no, or “here is what we would sort first”. No obligation to go ahead.
02
Placement day
~1 hour · local anaesthetic
The titanium implant is placed under local anaesthetic, usually in under an hour for a single tooth. Most people describe pressure rather than pain, and drive themselves home afterwards. If the old tooth is still there it is removed first; depending on the site, the implant sometimes goes in the same day and sometimes after the socket has healed.
03
Healing, quietly
3–6 months
This is the long, calm part. Over roughly three to six months the bone grows onto the implant and locks it in place — a process called osseointegration. There is no ongoing pain, and most people forget it is happening. Where the gap shows when you smile, a temporary tooth can bridge it in the meantime.
04
The final crown
1 visit
Once the implant is solid, we take an impression and fit a custom crown, colour-matched to your own teeth and shaped to bite and clean naturally. From that day you brush and floss it like any other tooth, and we keep an eye on it at your regular check-ups.
The honest bit
Will it actually hurt?
Placement is done under local anaesthetic, so during the procedure you feel pressure and movement, not pain. Afterwards, most people manage with over-the-counter pain relief and a few days of soft food, and are back to work within a day or two. It is ordinary surgery with a short, predictable recovery, not the ordeal people often fear. We would always rather set honest expectations than gloss over them. If pain is your main worry, that is completely reasonable — and worth reading about in full. Read the honest answer on pain →
Nervous about it? You are far from the only one, and it is nothing to feel awkward about. Tell us at the assessment and we will talk through sedation and comfort options and go at your pace. Sedation options if you feel anxious →
Start with a look, not a commitment
3D scan, an honest answer and a written quote. No obligation to go further.
After the day
Recovery, week by week
Days 1–3
Soreness and swelling peak. Over-the-counter pain relief, soft food and a cold compress handle it for most people. Many work from day one or two.
Week 1
Swelling settles and gentle brushing around the site resumes. Any stitches dissolve or are removed.
Weeks 2–6
Day to day the site feels normal. Eating returns to usual, still favouring the other side while things settle.
Months 3–6
The quiet phase while the bone fuses to the implant. No ongoing pain; most people forget until crown day.
When to call us
- Pain that increases after day three, rather than easing
- Swelling that keeps growing instead of settling
- Bleeding that will not slow down
Looking after it
- Soft foods for the first few days, building back as comfort allows
- Brush and floss gently around the site once healing starts
- Not smoking helps healing more than anything else you can do
More detail: what you can eat after surgery → and the full recovery week by week →. Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks; results and recovery vary between individuals, and you should always feel free to seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
Common questions
Procedure and recovery questions
How long does the whole procedure take?
Commonly three to six months from the first consultation to the final crown, and most of that is healing time while the implant fuses to your bone, not time in the chair. Cases that need an extraction or bone grafting first take longer — you will know your own timeline before anything starts.
Does getting an implant hurt?
Placement is done under local anaesthetic, so most people feel pressure rather than pain, followed by a few days of manageable soreness. If you are anxious, sedation options can make the day easier. Read the honest answer on pain →
When can I go back to work and eat normally?
Most people are back at work within a day or two, on soft foods to start and building back to normal over a couple of weeks. Recovery week by week → and what you can eat afterwards →.
Will I be left with a visible gap while it heals?
Not usually. Where the tooth shows when you smile, a temporary tooth can sit in the gap during the healing months, so you are not left without a front tooth. We sort this out as part of your plan.
Can the implant be placed the same day the tooth is removed?
Sometimes. It depends on infection, the condition of the bone and which tooth it is. Your 3D scan shows whether an immediate placement is sensible for you, or whether the socket should heal first — both are routine.
I am anxious about dental surgery. What are my options?
Tell us — it is one of the most common things we hear, and we plan around it. From simple reassurance and breaks through to sedation, the day is built to suit you, not rushed. Sedation options if you feel anxious →
Still weighing it up?
A free assessment with a 3D scan is the simplest way to get real answers for your own mouth — no obligation, no pressure. You leave with a written quote and a clear picture of the steps ahead, and you can see the full price guide or how to spread the cost whenever you are ready.
Reviewed by the Sunbury Dental Implants clinical team — AHPRA registered dentists. Last reviewed July 2026. This page is general information about the treatment process; individual assessment is required for all treatments, and surgical risks and recovery vary between individuals.