subject: Dental Implant Recovery Time [print this page] Hundreds of thousands of Americans each year undergo the procedures necessary to get dental implants. Replacing decaying teeth with titanium structural support and fake teeth can greatly improve the health, comfort and functionality of your teeth. Nearly 100% of dental implant procedures are successfully so the odds of a full recovery are very comfortably on your side. You can expect some pain, swelling and bleeding after the surgeries are complete.
Depending on how much work you are getting done, recovering from dental surgery can take anywhere from three months to over a year. Much of this time is spent simply waiting for the mouth to heal. Remember that an implant made of titanium will be inserted right into your jawbone and your body needs time to heal and adjust. In most cases, you will need to undergo several surgeries with a recovery period associated with each.
After the implants are surgically placed as they are meant to be, adding artificial teeth is another procedure. Your gums must first heal. Then, you will have either a removable set of teeth inserted into your mouth or a non-removable prosthesis. Your dentist should discuss all this with you before any surgery is performed.
The aftermath of having dental surgery performed to put in implants involves about what should be expected. Minor bleeding is common, as is developing bruises on your face and gums. Swelling is a given, of course, too. Luckily, you can talk to your dentist about pain meds to make the experience more comfortable. Sometimes antibiotics are needed as well for your recovery to help keep infection out of the question.
Gauze is the most common material used to address the bleeding that often comes after dental surgery. Ice packs are another must have for post-op when it comes to dental surgery. This will help any swelling lessen in severity and it will also help ease the pain.
One of the things you should prepare for when undergoing surgery is that afterwards you won't be able to do much chewing. Most patients need to stay on soft, non-chew foods for up to a week after surgery. Of course, all this will depend on the severity of your condition and how many teeth are being replaced.
Despite the ominous sound of getting this procedure done, after surgery most people are back to their regular day to day lives with in less than a week. Imagine being able to go under the knife and then, four days later, be ready to go back to your regular life with brand new teeth!
During the months of recovery from your surgery, your dentist will likely schedule regular appointments so he or she can keep tabs on how well your mouth is healing. It is also important to take care of your new teeth to keep them in tip top shape.
