Dental implants are changing the way that people live. If you have lost a natural tooth, dental implant placement can replace it and give you back your smile. They are the best option for those who want to replace missing real teeth or fix dental problems. They can be used in place of a lost tooth, broken tooth, or even as an anchor for removable dentures and dental bridges. They are biocompatible, which means they will fuse with bone tissue when placed in the jaw and can last a lifetime if cared for properly.
One of the main advantages is that they are a permanent solution, with no need for replacement or re-treatment in later years. Suppose you’re considering titanium implants to replace your missing teeth. In that case, you must know about their recovery process before deciding since it differs for every person depending on your individual needs and circumstances.
Read below to find out more about what you should expect after the dental implant procedure and how long it will take before you’re back on your feet again!
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What to Expect when Getting Dental Implants
Getting a dental implant is a lengthy and complex process, but it’s worth the work. It can be risky and complicated as well. The entire dental implants procedure could take several months if everything goes as planned; however, implant patients must always be ready if something unexpected happens during their treatment or healing periods.
The dental implant surgery will involve removing a potentially damaged tooth If that is the reason for the procedure. In addition to this, you may need a bone graft to the jaw bone for the implant and replacement teeth to stay secure in place. The healing time would take several months between each step; when they insert the implant, attach the abutment and the fitting of the permanent crown. Thus, you need to invest your money and your time in this kind of reconstructive treatment.
Learn More: Are Dental Implants Right for Me?
What to Expect After the Dental Implants Surgery
The surgical site will be sore and tender for a few days, depending on the severity of the initial surgery, but it should feel better with time. Swelling can occur on the face near the surgery area, which is normal and should go down in two or three days when using ice packs to reduce any swelling and discomfort. Also, you may experience some dizziness or nausea after the surgical procedure. Still, it should not last for more than 24 hours. If you have a fever that’s above 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit following your dental appointment and feel severely ill, contact your dental clinic immediately.
How Long Does It Take to Heal?
The recovery period for this type of procedure can be four to six months, and the patient can resume everyday life without complication.
However, the healing process can depend on any pre-existing dental condition or supplemental procedures that have to be done before oral surgery.
What Can You Do After the Surgery?
The healing time after a dental implant surgery varies from person to person, depending on the type of procedure done and the health conditions of each individual. However, there are general steps that you should follow to help your body recover properly from this surgery:
- Brushing and flossing your artificial teeth is essential to good oral health, so do it after every meal or at least two times every day.
- Soft-bristled toothbrushes designed for cleaning implant teeth are often good at gently scrubbing the area where gums and implants meet.
- A few days after surgery, try eating softer foods and liquid foods such as mashed potatoes, yogurt, applesauce, etc.
- Take a lot of rest to speed up your tooth implant recovery time.
What Can You Not Do After the Surgery?
- Don’t drink through straws or spit for the first two weeks.
- Don’t smoke or chew tobacco, as it can cause discolouration and can affect the healing process.
- Avoid eating hard or crunchy foods shortly after your surgery same goes for sugary and sticky foods.
- Avoid doing strenuous activity.
Learn More: Who Can Perform Dental Implant Procedures
How to Speed up The Healing Time of Dental Implants
There are various ways that you can make your dental implants heal faster, and it includes following the post-op instructions given by the dentist. A few of the most common methods include:
Having a healthy diet
Immediately after dental surgery, you should avoid eating anything with a high risk of creating oral bleeding (such as tough, spicy, and hot foods). Also, you need to consume only soft or liquid food for the first few days following the procedure to promote accelerated healing. Focus on clean and wholesome foods to strengthen your immune system both before and after surgery.
Avoid Smoking
Smoking affects the healing process. Smoking diminishes the oxygen levels needed for a speedy dental implant recovery after an injury, surgery, or illness.
Smoking and drinking alcohol will not help your dental implant treatment. Smoking, in particular, can cause discolouration around the implants and hinder the growth of soft tissue that needs to develop for a successful healing process; thus, your journey to recovery will be longer. On the other hand, drinking alcohol has been shown to affect the recovery rate as it slows down your body’s ability to heal itself.
Rinse Your Mouth Frequently
After having the surgery, you must rinse your mouth frequently with warm saltwater. It will eliminate the bacteria and germs in your mouth that may soon cause inflammation and slow down the healing process. Rinse at least after every meal or more often if necessary to eliminate any bacteria growths or irritants from affecting your implant site.
Rest
There are many things to do after dental implant surgery, but one of the most important is taking a break. Your body needs time and rest for you to heal at your own pace. Avoid all vigorous activity after your implant operation so as not to hamper this crucial stage of recovery. Therefore, limit physical activities, so the healing process proceeds smoothly and quickly without any setbacks or increased risk factors.
Learn More: Pros & Cons of Dental Implants
Can You Smoke After the Dental Implant Surgery?
There are many reasons you should stop smoking, and getting a dental implant is one of them. Smoking can lead to infection, which may result in an eventual implant failure. Thus, as soon as the procedure has been completed, it would be wise not to smoke or chew tobacco until at least another week passes by.
Do’s and Don’ts of Taking Care of My Dental Implants
Do’s
- Take a lot of rest.
Try to take it easy after your dental surgery. You should take the day off after any dental surgery to rest and recover. Suppose your implant dentist gave you a sedative after the procedure. In that case, you should avoid anything mentally demanding for the rest of the day. Dentists recommend that you don’t lift or bend anything to prevent dislodging the blood clots and leading to severe bleeding. Moreover, elevate your head with many pillows when you sleep.
- Follow your post-op cleaning instructions.
Your new teeth will be sensitive for a while, and your dentist might tell you to avoid brushing or using mouthwash for a while. They recommend rinsing with saltwater mixture since your might is not yet ready for conventional oral hygiene at this time. However, you can brush your other teeth as you usually would.
- Apply Ice
You may have bruises or swelling of your face, which is normal. Apply an ice pack to your jaw for 30 minutes, then remove for 20 minutes and repeat this cycle throughout the first 24 hours. If both sides had surgery, apply the ice to each side, alternating from one side to another. The swelling should subside after a couple of days. Still, if it gets worse and you notice pus coming out of either incision or develop a fever, seek medical attention immediately.
- Look after the Blood Clot
For a few days after your surgery, try to avoid drinking carbonated beverages and alcohol. It is also recommended that you don’t smoke and spit for the first few days following an oral procedure as it may affect how well the clot heals in your mouth.
- Have a soft diet
After your procedure, be sure only to eat soft and liquid foods such as milkshakes, yogurt, pudding, applesauce, lukewarm soup, and mashed potatoes. A few days after surgery, you may eat anything soft as long as it’s chewed away from the surgical sites. Furthermore, cutting chunks of food in smaller pieces before eating may help preserve your tooth implants’ integrity.
- Take prescribed pain medication.
Over-the-counter pain medications can take the edge off until you heal. Depending on your pain level, over-the-counter medicines may be enough to control mild discomfort. Still, stronger medication might be prescribed for more severe symptoms.
- Follow-up checkup
Suppose you have any post-surgery follow-up appointment scheduled with the dentist. In that case, you must show up to those so the dentist can evaluate and monitor your condition.
Learn More: Who Can Get Dental Implants
Dont’s
- Don’t use stain-removing toothpaste
Avoid using toothpaste labelled “whitening” or “brightening” and those containing baking soda or activated charcoal. Stain-removing toothpaste is too abrasive for your replacement teeth.
- Don’t spit and suck on a straw.
Don’t spit or drink through straws shortly after the surgery, as it puts pressure on your mouth and will have adverse effects on the implant site.
- Don’t eat hard and chewy foods.
Following surgery, you need only to eat soft food. You should avoid any foods that may scrape the surgical area or irritate it. Avoid anything too cold, too hot, chewy, tough, crunchy, or spicy when recovering from surgery. Eating sugar-laden foods can quickly lead to plaque buildup, which in turn will damage your teeth and gums and leads to poor dental health.
- Don’t smoke
Smoking is one of the significant contributors to dental problems and failures where healing has taken place. There are many reasons why smoking can impact dental treatments. Still, the main reason is the volume of nicotine present in a cigarette. Therefore, if you smoke during treatment and beyond treatment, this toxin remains in your mouth and affects the health of all tooth structures.
- Don’t do strenuous activities.
It’s important to stay active, but not immediately after your dental implant surgery. Strenuous activities can lead to excessive bleeding and increased swelling in the days following the procedure due to the strain on the healing gums.
Final Thoughts
It is essential to understand how the human body reacts and heals after dental implant surgery. The recovery time for dental implants can vary, depending on several factors, including your age, gender, or health condition.
When it comes to dental implants, you want the best care and treatment plan available. If you want more detailed information about what type of dental implant should work best for you, contact Burwood Dental Care at 03 7034 0333 today! We can help assess which procedure will most successfully restore your oral health while maintaining comfort through the healing process.