Before and After Dental Implants – Dos & Don’ts, Recovery Period, Recovery Tips

Before and After Dental Implants – Dos & Don’ts, Recovery Period, Recovery Tips

28th March 2023

Let’s talk about dental implants, the next best thing to real teeth! They serve as an effective solution for missing teeth and offer higher success rates than other teeth replacement options. Read this article to expect how your teeth might look before and after dental implants.

You’ll also learn about the do’s and don’t’s after dental implant surgery and other important recovery tips.

Before and After Dental Implants – An Overview

Here’s what you can expect before and after dental implants.

Before Dental Implants

To begin, Natural Smiles’ dedicated team of dentists will first thoroughly examine. This will help us understand whether dental implants are most suitable for you. We’ll also look into your medical history and effectively examine your gums, teeth, and mouth.

Our dentist will then create a dental treatment plan that aligns with your needs. This plan will determine how many implants you’ll need, how long the procedure will take, and the type of implant you need.

Next, we’ll help you prepare for the surgery. This preparation stage may involve us advising you to stop smoking, avoid consuming certain medications or foods, or take antibiotics in order to prevent any infections.

During the Dental Implant Procedure

You may receive local anesthesia to help you relax during the procedure.

Once you’re more relaxed, the dentist will make a small incision in your gum tissue. This will expose your jawbone. We will then drill a small hole into the bone before placing the implant into the hole. Next, we’ll stitch the gum tissue closed over the implant.

After Dental Implants

You may experience some bruising and swelling around the implant site after surgery. You can count on us to help you manage any discomfort. Ensure you follow our instructions so you can properly heal.

Through a process called osseointegration, the implant will fuse with the jawbone over the next few months. In this period, you must avoid putting a lot of pressure on the site to let it integrate fully with the bone.

Our oral surgeons will attach an abutment to the implant after it fully fuses with the jawbone. This abutment will help connect the implant to the replacement tooth. After this, we will place a bridge or a custom-created crown on top of the abutment to replace the missing teeth.

Upon completing the procedure, we’ll advise you on maintaining good oral health. We’ll instruct you to regularly floss, brush, and get your teeth checked on schedule.

Do’s and Don’t’s After Dental Implant Surgery

Aftercare is essential to ensure the success of your dental implants. Follow these tips.

Do’s
Listen to your dentist’s post-operative instructions carefully, and follow them religiously. Care for the implant site by taking all the relevant measures.
We’ll advise you to eat soft, nutritious foods for the first few days after surgery. This will help reduce discomfort and promote healing.
Reduce swelling and pain by applying ice to the affected area.
Avoid brushing the implant site until it has fully healed.
Attend all follow-up appointments with your dentist.
Don’t’s
Don’t smoke or use tobacco products after your surgery. This can interfere with the healing process and increase the risk of complications.
Don’t chew on crunchy or hard foods for the first few weeks after surgery.
Avoid drinking alcohol for at least 24 hours after surgery. It may get in the way of your healing process.
Don’t use straws. This suction could dislodge the blood clot at the implant site.
Don’t overexert yourself or engage in strenuous physical activity for the first few days after surgery. Doing so may increase swelling and pain.

Recovery Period After Dental Implant Surgery

Not everybody’s recovery period is the same. It may vary depending on the patient’s health, the procedure performed, and the number of implants placed. Keeping that in mind, one may expect the following:

Right after surgery: Some bleeding, discomfort, and swelling are natural. You can manage it with ice packs and prescribed pain medication.
First week: Resting is required during the first week after surgery. Avoid participating in strenuous activities and consume soft foods like soup and mashed potatoes. And make sure you don’t chew on the affected site.
Second week: By this time, most of the discomfort and swelling are expected to begin to subside. You may be able to resume regular activities. However, you should still avoid hard foods and continue to take the medication we prescribe.
Weeks 3-4: Now’s when the implant site may start to heal. Any sutures may be removed too. While you may be allowed to eat different kinds of food, we’d still recommend you avoid crunchy foods for a little longer.
Months 2-6: Over the next several months, the implant will fuse with the jawbone through a process called osseointegration. During this time, you should continue to follow your dentist’s instructions and attend any necessary follow-up appointments.
The implant site may take several months to heal post-surgery. However, most of the time, patients are able to resume participating in regular activities a week or two after the procedure. Nevertheless, we’d recommend you follow the cosmetic dentist’s instructions carefully and come in for regular checkups to ensure the success of your dental implants.

Dental Implant Recovery Tips

Rinse with saltwater. This will promote healing and reduce inflammation and get rid of toothache. For this, you must mix 1/2 teaspoon of salt in warm water and mix it around your mouth for 30 seconds before spitting it out.
Take prescribed pain medication. We recommend you avoid aspirin as it may cause bleeding.
Use pillows to elevate your head while sleeping to reduce swelling.
Clean your teeth and implant site gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Avoid irritating the area.
Drink a lot of water and include a balanced diet as part of your everyday routine.
Don’t neglect unusual symptoms like severe tooth pain or excessive bleeding. Contact us at Natural Smiles immediately.

When you decide to go ahead with dental implant surgery, you’re committing to looking after your teeth. Ensure you respect the recovery period and follow all the do’s and don’t’s to avoid delaying the healing stage. With us, you’re guaranteed to have a successful outcome!