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tooth implant recovery time sydney

Tooth Implant Recovery Time – Factors Affecting The Healing Process

If you’re missing teeth and are tired of dentures, you might be looking into getting dental implants. At first glance, the dental implant procedure can seem complicated and time-consuming. You’ll have at least three procedures, and the healing process varies. However, dental implant surgery has a high success rate of 95%, and although it is an invasive procedure, recovery is usually easy.   

Your dental implant recovery time and side effects will depend on many factors, including the number of implants, your dental health, and length of the surgery.  

Before and after every procedure, your dentist will provide you with information specific to the surgery, including recovery time, a unique meal plan or aftercare. 

 

What are Dental Implants?

factors tooth implant recovery time sydneyDental implants are permanent alternatives to dentures and dental bridges, which your dentist will surgically embed into your jawbone. The small metal rod acts similarly to the root of a natural tooth. In addition to being permanent and looking more natural, dental implants also come with several health advantages.

A missing tooth can cause your jawbone to weaken. Because the metal rod sits in the jaw, it gives the bone something to grow around, resulting in a process called osseointegration. Once this process is complete, the dental implants will be firmly integrated into your jaw, creating a solid anchor for artificial teeth.

The dental implant procedure includes at least two surgeries, a tooth fitting and several appointments with your dentist. Your dentist will likely talk about it in four stages: the consultation, the dental implant surgery, placing the abutments, and fitting the crown.  

 

First Step: The Consultation

Before having dental implants, you’ll schedule a consultation with your dentist. They’ll complete a full physical, determine how many dental implants you require, and make a recommendation for surgery.

If you have healthy gums, the surrounding teeth are healthy, and your dentist is happy with your bone density, your dentist will work with you to schedule a date for your dental implant.

If your dentist finds a problem that would be detrimental to the success of a dental implant, there are ways to ensure your jaw and mouth are healthy enough.

 

Bone Graft: Sometimes, a patient will require a bone graft to ensure their jaw has enough density to sustain the dental implant. If this is the case, your dentist will likely schedule the bone graft several months before your dental implant surgery date.

If you only require minimum bone grafting, your dentist might combine the bone graft and dental implant surgeries. 

The healing process for a bone graft can take anywhere from two weeks to three months. Your dentist will provide you with recovery instructions, including how to keep the graft area clean, what types of food you can eat, and when you can resume extreme exercise. 

 

Tooth Extraction: If you have one or more decaying teeth surrounding the dental implant area, your dentist may decide to extract them before proceeding with the dental implant procedure. For simple extractions, your dentist will use a local anaesthetic, whilst more complicated surgeries might require general anaesthesia.

Recovery time for tooth extraction is usually around 1-2 weeks. Follow your dentist’s instructions, but you’ll likely need to eat soft foods, take over the counter pain medication as needed, and refrain from drinking with straws for at least 48 hours. If you experience extreme bleeding, fever or high levels of discomfort, contact your dentist immediately.

 

First Procedure: Dental Implant Surgery

Once your dentist believes your mouth is healthy enough to support dental implants, they will work with you to schedule an appointment for your dental implant procedure

The surgery will require local anaesthesia, and on average, takes around one hour per implant. Nervous or anxious patients can also request IV sedation. Your dentist will make a small incision in your gums to expose the jawbone. Next, they will drill into your bone, and embed the titanium rod into place. 

There are two parts to your dental implant recovery. First, you’ll need to recover from the surgery. The length of time depends on your health before the surgeries and the number of implants you received. For the first 24 hours, you might also suffer from side effects of the anaesthesia, including dizziness, nausea or sleepiness. However, these should dissipate by the next day. 

Often, you will have to follow a diet of soft foods and a strict cleaning regiment. Follow any guidelines your dentist lays out to prevent infection, which could lengthen your tooth implant recovery time. Refraining from smoking can also help to speed up the recovery process. You might experience discomfort, swelling or light bleeding in the days following your surgery.

The second part of your healing process has to do with the healing of your jaw. Although your wound will heal within the first few weeks, it can take anywhere from eight weeks to nine months for the osseointegration process to finish. The time frame depends on many things, including the number of implants and your health prior to the operation. During your dental implant recovery time, it’s essential to continue to practice good dental hygiene, including brushing, flossing and regular dentist appointments.

 

Second Procedure: Placing the Abutment

Once the dental implants fuse with your jaw, your dentist will schedule your second procedure, a minor surgery to attach the abutment. 

overall estimate tooth implant recovery time sydneyThe abutment attaches to the implant, and it connects to your crown. This surgery can be done either with local anaesthesia or with IV sedation. 

The healing process after receiving your abutment lasts around two weeks, but you might need to wait about six weeks before fitting your tooth. 

After this surgery, you might experience some swelling and discomfort around the surgery area. Follow your dentist’s instructions about food restrictions and cleaning. As in your first surgery, smoking is likely to lengthen your tooth implant recovery time

 

Third Procedure: Choosing and Inserting Artificial Teeth

The third and final step in your dental implant journey is to receive your artificial tooth or teeth. First, your dentist will create a mould using 3D imaging or x-rays to design a custom crown for you.

This process takes around six weeks. Once it’s ready, you’ll come in for your final appointment and have the teeth fitted.

After this process, you’ll simply need to follow standard dental hygiene practices. Be sure to floss and brush your teeth twice daily.  

 

Tooth Implant Recovery Time: An Overall Estimate

If you require no extra surgeries, you can expect to need an average of four weeks for your active dental implant recovery. However, because it can sometimes take six to nine months for the osseointegration, the overall process can take about a year. Your dentist will be able to give you an individualised time frame after your consultation.

 

Make a Booking Today

If you’re missing teeth and want to schedule a dental implant procedure, use our online appointment scheduler to book a consultation at one of our locations.  

 

 

Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks.

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