What To Expect After You Get Dental Implants?

Perhaps you’re missing one or more teeth or have damaged teeth and simply can’t imagine wearing dentures for the rest of your life. Dental implants are a great alternative.

They will provide a long-term solution and look, feel, and act just like natural teeth.

Getting dental implants can drastically improve your quality of life. Though the procedure and healing process may not be a walk in the park, you will find that being prepared and knowing what to expect will make a world of difference.

You can expect to make a few lifestyle changes while in recovery. Resting, eating soft foods, and managing pain will be very important.

Before going in for surgery, it is still essential to make a list of questions for your dentist if you have any concerns. They will likely give you instructions to help make your recovery time more manageable.

If you have any concerns at any time during your healing process, be sure to reach out to your dentist’s office. They will ultimately have the best advice for you and your situation.

If you’re about to undergo dental implant surgery, you might be concerned about what to expect afterward. Not to worry, here’s a list of seven things to expect after dental implant surgery.

In addition to this list, be sure to follow any directions your dentist gives to allow for an easy recovery.

Pain

It is normal to experience pain or tenderness after undergoing dental implant surgery. You probably won’t feel much pain as the anesthesia wears off for the first day.

Your dentist may prescribe you medication to help with any discomfort or pain.

Alternatively, you could manage the pain with over-the-counter medications as well. If so, be sure to follow the directions on the bottle.

Depending on how many implants you’ve had, the pain can last up to a week, with the peak occurring between 3-5 days after the procedure.

Swelling

It is very common to experience swelling of both the gums and face. Some people will swell more than others. Swelling is a normal reaction to surgery and can be managed by applying ice to the swollen areas.

Using ice during the first couple of days can reduce the amount of overall swelling during recovery.

The dentist may prescribe medication to help with this issue as well. You can also speak to your pharmacist about over-the-counter medicines available to help alleviate any swelling you may be experiencing.

You can also expect the swelling to naturally decrease throughout your recovery period.

Bruising

Alongside pain and swelling, some individuals may experience bruising after dental implant surgery. Bruises are caused by bleeding inside soft tissue.

Some people are more prone to this symptom, while others may not experience it. Depending on the individual, Bruising can last about seven to fourteen days and may spread around the face and down the neck.

Bleeding

It is normal to have minor bleeding in the mouth after surgery, especially within the first 24-72 hours. You may notice some redness in your saliva.

Your dentist may suggest putting gauze in your mouth around the bleeding sites to help absorb the blood and stop the bleeding. Excessive bleeding could be a reason for concern.

If you are bleeding profusely from the surgery site, you should contact your dentist immediately.

Diet

After surgery, you may need to adjust your diet to help with the side effects and avoid any additional irritation. Eating hard food may cause trauma to the healing sites and increase your overall recovery time.

For the first few days, you’ll want to eat soft foods that don’t require a lot of chewing.

Despite having pain and swelling, it is essential to eat nutritious foods and drink lots of water to speed up the healing process.

Pureed foods, smoothies, protein and meal replacements drinks, and all liquids should be safe during the healing process.

Rest

It is advised to rest after surgery and avoid touching the surgery site. If you’ve undergone anesthesia for the procedure, you will likely feel tired upon arriving home. Allowing yourself to rest will speed up your recovery period.

You should avoid any strenuous activities after surgery while you’re healing. Exercising should wait until you are fully healed to avoid the risk of bleeding.

Light, low-impact exercises such as walking, stretching, yoga might be acceptable once you’ve started healing, but be sure to get your doctor’s permission first.

Follow-up

You should expect your dentist to schedule a follow-up appointment to see how you heal. In the meantime, you should follow proper oral hygiene to allow the bone in your jaw to heal and fuse to the implant itself.

Practicing excellent oral hygiene will extend the life of your implants and allow for an easier healing process.

If you’re looking at getting dental implants but you’re unsure how to start, a quick search for a term like “dentist near me lumberton” should steer you in the right direction.