Dental implants are a commonly known surgical procedure to replace lost teeth in your mouth. Many patients inquire about the implant process every day and what they need to know to prepare for their operation. Before you book your next dental appointment, you should know as many facts as possible to help you make the best decision you can. One of the key deciding factors to know is the recovery process. If you’re looking to know how long recovery from dental implant surgery takes or just looking to inquire about the surgical procedure, you’ve come to the right place.
Is It Painful?
Contrary to what you might have thought before, recovery from dental implant surgery isn’t that painful. Because there are no nerve endings in the bone, most of the pain is discomfort from the surgery, like the small incision made on your gum. You are usually also provided over-the-counter medication like ibuprofen if you need it. If your surgery is a bit more invasive, you might be prescribed medication beforehand, but the pain usually isn’t intolerable for most people. Either way, you shouldn’t worry much about terribly high pain levels.
Post Surgery Care and Recovery
In the days after surgery, it’s EXTREMELY important to be diligent and maintain good oral hygiene. Within the first 24 hours, you want to rinse your mouth with a saltwater solution, and once a whole day has passed, you can carefully and gently brush your teeth again. You will also want to ensure that you take all medications as prescribed, even if you’re not feeling much pain. If pain increases day by day, be sure to contact your oral surgeon.
Keep in mind that it is perfectly normal to feel a bit of dizziness and swelling in the area. You may also have an elevated temperature, but these aren’t causes for concern as much as they are just part of the recovery process. None of these symptoms should last too long, and you shouldn’t be too worried about your healing time dragging on.
What Factors Can Add to the Recovery Time?
A few factors add to your dental implant recovery time, including your health and oral hygiene. Poor hygiene habits can lead to infections in the area, and you may not heal properly. If you received multiple implants or needed bone grafts, the dental implant process might be delayed as dentists may choose to wait a few weeks after bone grafts before finishing the implant process. Regardless of how long your healing process takes, you must contact your dentist immediately if you are still feeling pain two weeks after your implant is in place.
So How Long Will a Full Recovery Take?
In many cases, patients return to work the next day. Most symptoms go away after 24-48 hours, and by the end of the first workday post-op, you should be feeling relatively comfortable. If you need multiple implants or bone grafts, the process can take about a week or two. Consider a few of the other factors above, and you can see why the process might extend beyond a few days, but you shouldn’t expect an extended recovery period. That’s one of the factors that make the surgery so common — it’s simple and the healing process is relatively straightforward.
Considering Getting Dental Implant Surgery? Look No Further Than Complete Dental!
While dental implant surgery is a relatively simple procedure, surgery always has its risks, and you should turn to professionals who have seen every possible mouth in the book. Complete Dental provides a wide range of dental services throughout the Houston, TX area, from root canals to daily dentures. If you want to have your mouth handled with care, contact Complete Dental today!