As an implant dentist, we make it possible to restore any teeth that you have lost. A dental implant offers you the ability to lead a normal life without worrying about missing teeth. The most complete way, of replacing a lost tooth, comes by way of an oral surgery, where we implant a metal post beneath the gums and secure it to the jawbone. The symbiosis between the implant and the jawbone, as well as the organic tissue, is critical to the success of your dental implant surgery, which is why recovery time is very important. Understanding that, regardless of how minor, dental implant surgery is, in fact, a surgical procedure is important for taking the time to recover fully.
Recovering from a dental implant surgery starts with time. As with any surgery, you are going to need a certain amount of allocated time for healing. For starters, when you come out of anesthesia you will need to let the effects wear off before being able to drive home. If you want to return home immediately following the surgery itself, you will need to ensure that you bring a designated driver with you or have someone pick you up. The overall recovery process will take several days, but you should be able to return to normal activities after the first 24 to 48 hours. We do recommend that you spend several days avoiding strenuous physical situations, like lifting heavy weights, for example so that you do not risk damaging the implant or tearing the stitches.
The single largest risk when you have a surgery, including dental implant surgery, is the risk of an infection. Since there is an open wound, which is stitched up after the implant is in place, there is a chance of an infection setting in. We are fully aware of this and will take every step necessary to avoid any infection. Our first line of defense is to prescribe an antibiotic as a precautionary measure. As an implant dentist, we recommend starting the antibiotic the day after the surgery and will continue for several days. It is important that you fill the prescription in a timely manner and that you take the entire course of antibiotics. Since antibiotics can be harsh on the system, we recommend that you take the pill with a meal or follow it up with a glass of milk.
As an implant dentist, we will give you a special rinse with which to wash the area around the dental implant. This medicated solution, when combined with salt water rinses, will help disinfect the site of the dental implant and go far to ensuring that there are no infections possible. You will need to rinse three or four times in a day.
Additionally, you need to avoid touching the implant. Since the fingers can carry external germ and bacteria to the site of the surgery, you should avoid touching the dental implant until it is completely healed.
If you experience any discomfort during the healing process you can take an over the counter pain medication and use a cool compress to reduce the swelling. You should also watch what you eat and stick to soft foods for a few days.
