A dental implant allows you to have the natural-looking and beautiful restoration you need for your smile. Whether you are getting one or multiple implants placed, it’s important to know what to expect when recovering from your dental implant procedure.
So what do you need to know for your dental implant recovery process? While your dentist will let you know what to expect, here are a few things you may experience and what you can do to prepare for the procedure.
Immediately After the Procedure
General anesthesia is not required for dental implant placement. So unless you opt for sedation dentistry during your procedure, you should be able to take yourself home afterward.
For the next three days or so, you can expect minor bruising, bleeding, and swelling around the implant site. You may also experience some pain, but the discomfort should be minimal and be manageable with over-the-counter medications. Typically, your dentist will prescribe stronger medication as a precaution.
Swelling will usually peak around the third day after the surgery, but then should start to go down. It’s normal to experience some discomfort for up to a week after the procedure.
However, most patients report that dental implant placement is less painful than a tooth extraction [1]. Immediately after the procedure and for the first two days, it’s important to avoid strenuous exercise and take it easy while your mouth is healing.
For the Next Week: Eat Softer Foods
Your dentist will advise you to eat soft foods and avoid chewing on the side of your mouth where the implant was placed. You should do this for a minimum of a few days and up to a week, but some cases may require sticking to softer foods for longer [2].
Especially avoid foods such as popcorn, caramel, tough meats, and hard breads or crackers that can damage teeth. The best foods to eat include yogurt, soups, smoothies, eggs, beans, and cooked vegetables to prevent damage to your healing dental implant.
Take Care When Cleaning Your Teeth
Cleaning your teeth is still important following a dental implant procedure, but you will want to avoid brushing the implant site directly. Instead, brush carefully around the implant and avoid aggressively rinsing your mouth with water. If your dentist advises you to do saltwater rinses, you will want to gently swish the water around in your mouth and gently spit it out.
It’s important to avoid doing anything that would dislodge the blood clots around your implant, which are an integral part of healing. These activities include using straws, forcefully spitting, smoking, and brushing the implant site directly.
When Will the Implant Be Fully Healed?
Dental implants need to fully integrate with your natural jawbone in order to heal and support a dental crown. This process can take anywhere from three months and up to six. It’s essential to follow your dentist’s instructions for healing during this time so your implant will heal properly and last as long as possible.
Once your dental implant is healed, it will be ready for the final restoration—your temporary dental crown will be removed and the permanent one placed [3]. Once the permanent crown has been placed and adjusted, the process will be complete, and you will have a beautiful smile to show off!
Are you considering dental implants or have questions about the recovery process? If so, reach out to a dentist experienced in dental implant restoration for a consultation.
Sources:
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8424234/
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8538387/
3. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/implants
