While dental implant surgery is relatively short and uncomplicated, the healing period is critical to the overall success of the dental implant procedure. If you are considering dental implants you should know that the recovery process doesn’t happen overnight. Instead, it takes patience and commitment to achieve the best results possible.
Here’s what you can expect from tooth implant recovery and a few tips to ensure your mouth heals properly …
Tooth implant recovery time varies
The time it takes to recover from the dental implants procedure varies from one patient to another and is dependent on their unique oral conditions.
Some of the factors that dictate the length of recovery include:
- Whether you had a single implant or multiple dental implants
- If a bone graft was carried out before dental implant surgery
- Your mouth’s overall health and bone structure
- The existing condition of your health in general and the speed at which your body heals
As a rule of thumb, you can expect to experience minor pain and discomfort the first couple of days after surgery. Most people find this can be managed with over-the-counter painkillers such as Ibuprofen. You may also experience facial swelling and some bleeding. After day three, you should start to feel more comfortable and the swelling should have subsided.
Once a full week has gone by, your mouth should be feeling more normal and any inflammation and discomfort should have disappeared.
It’s normal to bleed post-surgery
It’s common to notice blood at the site of your dental implants once surgery is complete. To help, the dentist will give you a piece of gauze to bite down on to help a blood clot form. This is vital to prevent bacteria from entering the site so it’s important to follow instructions.
Spitting out and rinsing your mouth is likely to aggravate any bleeding so change the gauze if necessary and gently bite down until any bleeding ceases. Also, you may find your nose bleeds if you’ve received dental implants in the upper jaw area. If this happens, do not blow your nose, simply blot it and apply pressure.
You will probably have swelling
Don’t be surprised if you experience some degree of swelling. This is perfectly normal and is the body’s way of protecting an area that has been ‘injured’.
If you’ve undergone a bone graft as part of your dental implant procedure, then you’re sure to experience swelling. Often, this takes effect 3-4 days after surgery and typically starts to subside within 7 days.
Even if you only received a single implant and any surgery was relatively moderate, swelling is highly likely. It’s also possible for there to be some facial bruising and possible numbness, plus some tingling of the lips and tongue – although the latter should soon dissipate.
The best way to minimise swelling is to place an ice pack on the affected part of your face for the first day following surgery. If you’ve had dental implants on both sides of your face, consider switching the ice pack between sides for 30 minutes intervals.
You are likely to have sutures
Not every oral surgery requires stitches but in most cases, dental implants require sutures to aid in the healing process. Most of the stitches used will drop out of their own accord within 3 to 5 days although some may take longer to dissolve or require your dentist to remove them.
Eating and drinking immediately after dental implant surgery may be different
It’s important to treat your dental implants gently for the first days/weeks after surgery to allow them to heal properly. Therefore eating and drinking may be different from what you’re accustomed to. For patients having just one or two implants and relatively simple surgery, we suggest a diet of soft food for a week or two following surgery.
However, if your surgery was more complex you might expect to maintain a soft food diet for longer. Protein shakes and smoothies are recommended but also consider fish, blended vegetable soups and scrambled egg. You should also avoid overly hot food or beverages following surgery, and alcohol is strictly off-limits.
Tooth implant recovery – regular oral hygiene practices
In case you’re wondering whether or not to brush your teeth following dental implant surgery the answer is yes.
It may be uncomfortable for the first 24 hours to open your mouth wide enough to brush but once 24 hours have elapsed, you should resume your usual oral hygiene routine taking great care around the implant site. We also recommend rinsing your mouth gently with salt water every two or three hours to keep infection at bay. Do not, however, use a proprietary mouthwash for at least 2 weeks post-surgery.
Refrain from smoking at all costs
Smokers indeed face a higher risk of dental implant failure. Tobacco negatively impacts healing, osseointegration (fusion of the bone and implant), and the maintenance of oral hygiene around the implants. Smoking slows down the healing process and puts a person at greater risk of developing an infection.
For these reasons, it’s especially important to refrain from smoking if you are considering undergoing surgery for dental implants.
Find dental implants experts with No Gaps Dental
If you want more information about tooth implant recovery or are looking for experienced dentists to carry out the dental implants procedure, then look no further than No Gaps Dental.
As a multiple provider with 15 locations scattered around the Sydney metro area, we provide top-quality dental implants at affordable prices. Why not book a consultation today to see how we can help. Call us today at (02) 8806 0227.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks.