Whether you’re having a tooth extraction, dental implant, gum graft, or another type of oral surgery, one of the first questions most patients ask is:
“How long will it take to heal?”
The honest answer? It depends on the type of procedure — but with the right care, most patients recover faster than they expect.
Let’s walk through typical healing timelines for common procedures, what to expect during recovery, and how to support healing at home.
⏳ General Healing Timeline After Oral Surgery
Here’s a general guide for how long it takes to recover from common oral surgeries:
🦷 Simple Tooth Extraction
- Initial healing: 3–5 days
- Full healing: 1–2 weeks
- Bone may take several weeks to fully fill in
🦷 Surgical Extraction (e.g. wisdom teeth)
- Initial swelling and soreness: 3–7 days
- Most healing complete by: 2 weeks
- Full jawbone healing: 6–8 weeks
🦷 Dental Implants
- Soft tissue healing: 1–2 weeks
- Bone integration (osseointegration): 3–6 months before placing a crown
🦷 Gum Surgery or Grafting
- Soft tissue healing: 1–2 weeks
- Complete healing: 4–6 weeks
🦷 Bone Grafting
- Initial healing: 2–3 weeks
- Full integration: 4–6 months
Note: Everyone heals differently. Your age, health, oral hygiene, and whether you smoke or take certain medications can affect healing time.
🛌 What to Expect During Healing
In the first few days after surgery, it’s normal to experience:
- Mild to moderate pain or discomfort
- Swelling and bruising (especially after wisdom teeth removal)
- Slight bleeding or oozing
- Fatigue or low energy
These symptoms typically peak within 24–48 hours, then begin to improve. Most patients feel much better within a week — and many return to work or school within 1–3 days depending on the procedure.
✅ Tips to Heal Faster and More Comfortably
- Follow your dentist’s instructions — including when to take medications, what to eat, and how to clean the area
- Use ice packs during the first 24 hours to reduce swelling
- Eat soft foods and stay hydrated
- Avoid smoking, alcohol, and drinking through straws — they slow healing and increase the risk of complications like dry socket
- Rest and take it easy — your body heals best when you give it time
🚨 When to Call Your Dentist
Contact your dental office if you experience:
- Severe or worsening pain after 3–4 days
- Persistent bleeding
- Signs of infection (fever, pus, foul smell or taste)
- Difficulty swallowing or breathing
- Numbness that doesn’t improve
These could be signs of a complication that needs attention.
Final Thoughts
Healing after oral surgery takes time — but with good care and guidance, most patients recover smoothly and without issues. Whether it’s a simple extraction or a more complex procedure, our team is here to support you every step of the way.
Have a question about your recovery? Contact our office — we’re here to help you heal comfortably, confidently, and completely.