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Dental Treatments & Dental Work

Plan around dental work: see how long an implant takes and what recovery looks like day by day, when you can eat after a filling, crown or cleaning, how long each kind of dental work usually lasts, which specialist to see, whether you need antibiotics first, and what a whitening product's strength really means.

Tools in Treatments & Dental Work

Implant TimelineYour dates → every implant step, dated Eat After Dental WorkCleaning, filling, crown: when to eat and drink How Long Dental Work LastsHow long crowns, fillings and implants last Antibiotics Before Dental WorkHeart, joint or other reason: what guidelines say Whitening Strength ConverterCarbamide → hydrogen peroxide, with limits Implant RecoverySurgery date → today's normal, care and red flags Appointment LengthHow long cleanings, fillings and crowns take Dental Specialist FinderRoot canal, gums, implants, TMJ: who to see

Tools for before and after dental work

These tools answer the questions people ask around dental treatment: how long it takes, when you can eat, how long it lasts, whether you need antibiotics first, and what a whitening label means. Each tool lists its sources. None of them replaces the instructions your own dentist gives you, which always come first.

How long does a dental implant take?

Usually about 2 months to more than a year from start to finished tooth, and most of that time is healing. Guy's and St Thomas' NHS says treatment could take 6 to 12 months, and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS says it's usually at least a year. The surgery itself is short: placing one implant usually takes about half an hour (Cambridge University Hospitals NHS).

The Dental Implant Timeline turns your extraction or surgery date into dated stages. It covers bone grafts, sinus lifts, same-day implants and when the tooth goes on, and it can add calendar reminders.

How long does a dental appointment take?

Most cleanings take 30 to 60 minutes (Cleveland Clinic), and a deep cleaning takes 1 to 2 hours, in one visit or split over two (Cleveland Clinic). How often to go is set by your dentist: the UK's NICE guideline gives a range of 3 to 24 months for adults and 3 to 12 months for under-18s. How Long Does a Dental Appointment Take? adds up the time for the treatments you have booked, shows how many visits they usually take, and can remind you when your next checkup is due.

How long is recovery after implant surgery?

Swelling usually builds for 2–3 days, peaks around day 2–3, then goes down over about a week (Penn Dental Medicine; University of Rochester; McGill). After a bone graft, swelling and bruising can take 1–2 weeks to go (Cleveland Clinic). The Dental Implant Surgery Recovery tracker shows what's normal on each day after implant, bone graft or sinus lift surgery, when you can drink alcohol, smoke or exercise, and the warning signs. You can log pain and swelling day by day.

When can I eat after dental work?

After a plain cleaning, none of the sources we checked sets any wait, coffee included (Cleveland Clinic). Fluoride, numbness and some fillings and crowns change the answer. The When Can I Eat After Dental Work? tool covers 14 procedures and gives clock times for soft food, chewing, hot drinks, sticky food, staining food, alcohol and brushing. Where sources disagree, it shows both the earliest and the most cautious time.

Had a tooth taken out? Use When Can I…? After a Tooth Extraction instead, and the Dental Numbness Calculator to see when the numbness should wear off.

How long do fillings, crowns and implants last?

Most last many years. In a 2026 review of more than 11,000 crowns, 90.4–98.5% were still in place after 5 years, depending on the material (Pjetursson 2026). How Long Does Dental Work Last? shows the published figures for fillings, crowns, bridges, veneers, bonding, sealants, root canals, implants and dentures. Add the year yours was placed to see its age next to the studies.

To weigh an implant against a bridge or denture over the years, including cost, use the Tooth Replacement Cost Comparison.

Do I need antibiotics before dental work?

Most people don't. The American Heart Association suggests antibiotics before some dental work only for people at the highest risk from a heart infection, such as people with an artificial heart valve or a past infective endocarditis (AHA 2021, followed by the ADA). For people with joint replacements, the ADA's guideline says antibiotics are generally not recommended (ADA 2015).

The Antibiotics Before Dental Work checker explains what the guidelines say for your situation and gives you questions for your doctor. It never tells you to start or stop a medicine.

Which kind of dentist do I need?

Twelve dental specialties are recognized by the National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards, set up by the ADA; there were nine until 2019. Endodontists specialize in root canals, periodontists in gums, oral and maxillofacial surgeons in surgery, and prosthodontists in replacing teeth, but general dentists do much of the same work. The Dental Specialist Finder matches your problem to the right specialty and links to each specialty group's official directory, where there is one.

What does a whitening product's strength mean?

Labels use two different ingredients. To compare them, multiply a carbamide peroxide percentage by 0.361 to get its hydrogen peroxide equivalent (Health Canada), so 10% carbamide peroxide is about 3.6% hydrogen peroxide. In the EU, products over 0.1% hydrogen peroxide are only for use through a dentist, and the limit is 6% (Directive 2011/84/EU).

The Teeth Whitening Strength Converter does the math, shows the rules in the US, EU, UK, Canada and Australia, and explains what to expect for sensitivity and how long results last.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a dental implant take from start to finish?
Usually about 2 months to more than a year, and most of it is healing time. Guy's and St Thomas' NHS says 6 to 12 months; Cambridge University Hospitals NHS says it's usually at least a year. The Dental Implant Timeline dates each stage from your own start date.
How long does swelling last after implant surgery?
It usually peaks around day 2–3 and goes down over about a week (Penn Dental Medicine; University of Rochester; McGill). After a bone graft it can take 1–2 weeks (Cleveland Clinic). The Implant Surgery Recovery tracker shows what's normal each day.
How long does a dental cleaning take?
Most cleanings take 30 to 60 minutes, and a deep cleaning takes 1 to 2 hours, in one visit or split over two (Cleveland Clinic). How Long Does a Dental Appointment Take? adds up the time for everything you have booked.
How long after a dental cleaning can I eat?
If no fluoride was put on your teeth, none of the sources we checked sets any wait (Cleveland Clinic). Fluoride varnish, gel or foam add a wait. When Can I Eat After Dental Work? gives the clock times for each case.
How long does a dental crown last?
In a 2026 review of more than 11,000 crowns, 90.4–98.5% were still in place after 5 years, depending on the material (Pjetursson 2026). See the figures for your crown's material in How Long Does Dental Work Last?
Who needs antibiotics before dental work?
Only a small group of people with certain heart conditions, such as an artificial heart valve or a past infective endocarditis (AHA 2021, followed by the ADA). For joint replacements, the ADA's guideline says they're generally not recommended (ADA 2015). Your doctor decides; the checker shows what to ask.
How does carbamide peroxide compare with hydrogen peroxide?
Multiply the carbamide peroxide percentage by 0.361 to get the hydrogen peroxide equivalent (Health Canada), so 10% carbamide peroxide is about 3.6% hydrogen peroxide. The Teeth Whitening Strength Converter also shows the legal limits where you live.
How many dental specialties are there?
Twelve are recognized by the National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards, set up by the ADA; there were nine until 2019. The Dental Specialist Finder shows which one handles your problem.

Sources

  1. Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. Dental implants service - Overview. last updated December 2024. Accessed October 26, 2026.
  2. Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Dental implants in restorative dentistry. version 2, approved January 14, 2025. Accessed October 26, 2026.
  3. Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Insertion of dental implants. version 7, approved July 18, 2025. Accessed October 26, 2026.
  4. Cleveland Clinic. Dental Cleaning. last updated January 5, 2026. Accessed October 26, 2026.
  5. Pjetursson BE, Pitta J, Balet A, Bjarnadottir GR, Sailer I, Romandini P. International Journal of Prosthodontics 39(3):308–324. A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Evaluating the Survival, Failure, and Complication Rates of Metal-Ceramic, Veneered, and Monolithic All-Ceramic Tooth-Supported Single Crowns-Part 1. 2026. PubMed abstract checked. Accessed October 26, 2026.
  6. American Heart Association. Wilson WR, Gewitz M, Lockhart PB, et al. Circulation 2021;143(20):e963–e978. Prevention of Viridans Group Streptococcal Infective Endocarditis: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. 2021. Table 5 as corrected in Circulation 2022;145(17):e868. Accessed October 26, 2026.
  7. American Dental Association. Antibiotic Prophylaxis Prior to Dental Procedures (Oral Health Topics). last updated July 15, 2026. Accessed October 26, 2026.
  8. American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs. Sollecito TP, Abt E, Lockhart PB, et al. JADA 2015;146(1):11–16.e8. The use of prophylactic antibiotics prior to dental procedures in patients with prosthetic joints: Evidence-based clinical practice guideline for dental practitioners. 2015. Accessed October 26, 2026.
  9. Health Canada. Evidence of safety requirements for tooth whitening products containing peroxide and peroxide-generating compounds. published September 2024, modified 2025-08-12. Conversion factors (carbamide/urea peroxide 0.361), the 3% clinical-study trigger, pH of at least 4, label warnings. Accessed October 26, 2026.
  10. EUR-Lex (Official Journal of the European Union). Council Directive 2011/84/EU of 20 September 2011 (amending Annex III of Cosmetics Directive 76/768/EEC). 2011. Listed as no longer in force since 2013; its rules carried over into the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. Accessed October 26, 2026.
  11. Penn Dental Medicine (University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine). After Treatment Instructions: Implants. no printed date (posted January 2022). Accessed October 26, 2026.
  12. University of Rochester Medical Center, Eastman Institute for Oral Health (Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery). Postoperative Instructions Following Dental Implants or Related Surgery. no printed date. Accessed October 26, 2026.
  13. McGill University, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Dental implants post-operative instructions. Accessed October 26, 2026.
  14. Cleveland Clinic. Dental Bone Graft: Process, Purpose & Healing. last updated August 6, 2024. Accessed October 26, 2026.
  15. National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards (American Dental Association). Recognized Dental Specialties. © 2026. Specialty definitions and the 12 recognized specialty sponsoring organizations. Accessed October 26, 2026.
  16. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), clinical guideline CG19. Dental checks: intervals between oral health reviews (Recommendations). published October 27, 2004. Accessed October 26, 2026.
  17. Cleveland Clinic. Tooth Scaling and Root Planing. last updated December 2, 2024. Accessed October 26, 2026.

Last reviewed by the Dental Health Time editorial team, against the sources above. How we review.

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