Implants Recovery Time

How Will Dental Implant Surgery Affect My Life and How Long Can I Expect Healing to Take?

When you want to know about dental implants, you should speak with Dr. Song. He is experienced in placing implants and caring for them. One of the most commonly asked questions in our office is about how dental implants will affect the patient’s life and also how long it will take them to recover from the surgery. This is a very good question and one that you need to fully understand before you proceed with the dental implant procedure.

Recovery times are not the same for every patient and there is no definitive answer as to how long it will take you to heal. There are estimates in time and they can be discussed with Dr. Song when you have your consultation. The amount of time it will take you to heal from the dental implant procedure will depend on how many teeth are affected by the process, your overall health, and how your body heals to trauma or injury. These factors matter and will make a difference in the overall recovery time.

Since about 99 percent of patients in our Reno office are treated with local anesthesia, you can expect the process to be routine and smooth. Some patients will need IV or oral sedation to complete the procedure, but this is not the case with everyone. If you will need any type of sedation other than a local anesthetic, Dr. Song will let you know.

Placement of your dental implants will generally be routine and easy to complete. Patients who need a minimal or no bone graft will experience little to no discomfort and swelling once the procedure is done. Patients will be able to continue their social life and daily functions as normal and will not experience any down time. It is important to note that you will need to modify your diet and only eat soft foods. You should avoid chewy or crunchy foods until the dental implants have healed a bit. You also want to make sure you take careful precaution when you brush too.

It is impossible to say that you will NOT experience side effects from the procedure because it could happen, but generally is not a problem. Some of the most common side effects include minor swelling and discomfort in the mouth. You may have some bruising as well, but it will soon disappear.

If you do experience any symptoms, they can be managed with the use of over-the-counter medications or Dr. Song will provide you with a prescription to help with pain. After about 7 to 10 days, you should be able to return to your traditional diet. Some patients will need to continue to eat soft foods for up to 6 weeks, but this will be discussed with you at your consultation.

Dr. Song does want you to be aware that if you need to have any type of a grafting procedure performed, you will likely experience more swelling that is pronounced. This can be managed through medications to assist you in keeping it to a minimum.

Picture: Freepik

What Can Affect My Dental Implants Negatively?

When it comes time to heal, patients will find that the process is generally easy and the amount of time it takes greatly depends on your lifestyle choices and your body’s tolerances. For instance, if you are a smoker, you will find that it takes you longer to heal than someone who does not smoke. You should stop smoking or limit how much you smoke while you heal.

Some of the common lifestyle choices that can affect how long it takes for your implants to health include:

• Poor diet
• Smoking
• Excessive use of alcohol
• Lack of dental care

Dr. Song reminds you that it is important that you take care of your dental implants, gums, and mouth during your healing period. It is vital that you do, as improper dental care can lead to gum disease, and this can result in implant failure.

How Long Should I Expect Until the Dental Implants Take in My Mouth?

Once you have started to heal, the dental implants will start to integrate with your bone and anchor into place. Some patients can have dental crowns, or a fixed bridge placed onto the implants immediately, but not all patients can, so you should speak with Dr. Song if this is an option you want to consider.

You will need to come into our Reno office for regular checkups to check on the progress of your bonds. You should never rush your dental implants and should wait for them to heal on their own, as rushing the process can lead to implant failure.

If you would like to learn more about dental implants, now is the time to contact Access Dental Care in Reno, NV. Dr. Song will meet with you and discuss your options.