After you have your dental implant placed, the healing process begins. The healing time depends on a variety of factors: how well you take care of your mouth after surgery, how healthy your mouth is before your procedure, and whether you have any complications during or after surgery.
The Good Dentist wants you to know what to expect after dental implant surgery.
Pain At The Dental Implant Site
The first several days after dental implant surgery will be painful. You may experience a combination of swelling, numbness, minor bleeding, or bruising. If your discomfort level becomes unbearable, please contact your dentist immediately.
You may need pain medications such as ibuprofen or paracetamol to help manage any discomfort while the tissue around your implant heals. Commonly one of our dentists will prescribe you panadeine forte as long as there are no allergies to codeine.
Swelling and Numbness
During the recovery process, swelling and inflammation may occur around the implant site. It is normal to experience some numbness around your mouth and lips, cheek, and face.
These effects typically subside within a week after surgery, but it’s important that you follow all post-operative instructions given by your dentist so that you can minimise any discomfort during this time period.
Minor Bleeding
Bleeding is a common side effect of dental implant surgery because the procedure involves cutting into soft tissue and bone. Bleeding can occur during the first few days after surgery but usually stops thereafter.
If bleeding occurs beyond this time frame, it could indicate an infection. Infections are rare, but if you develop redness around the implant that doesn’t clear up in a few days, contact your dentist right away to prevent it from spreading into your bloodstream (sepsis).
Facial Bruising
Bruising around your gums, mouth, lips or skin is also common after having an implant placed near these areas. This usually goes away within a few weeks after surgery but can last longer if there’s trauma to these areas during treatment.
Please be mindful not to bite down too hard on food or gnaw at your mouth while the anaesthetic wears off.
Post Dental Implant Care
After you have had a dental implant, there are some things you need to do to keep it in good condition. Make sure you visit your dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings so they can keep an eye on your implant and make sure everything is going well. Always ensure that during a clean that an EMS Airflow device is used to clean around the implant rather than a tradition instrument. This reduces the chance of any damage to the implant surface which may cause issues down the track.
Brushing your teeth
It’s important to floss gently and brush twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Refrain from mouthwash and vigorous sloshing of liquid for the first week after surgery.
Medication
To help reduce pain, you may be given prescription pain medication, such as ibuprofen, paracetamol or panadeine forte to take home before you leave the dental office. You may also receive antibiotics to prevent infection at the site of your surgery.
If swelling, discomfort, or any other problem gets worse in the days after surgery, contact your dentist or oral surgeon.
Eating and Drinking
Drink plenty of water and eat soft foods, such as warm soup, eggs, or smoothies, until your mouth has healed. Please avoid chewy, sticky, or crunchy foods, as these will aggravate your implant or possibly even damage it.
Typically, you can resume normal eating and drinking after a week.
Do not smoke, drink alcohol, or use chewing tobacco products while healing. These activities can damage the bone around the implant and affect its success rate after surgery.
Superior Dental Implants and Aftercare
At The Good Dentist, we offer gold star dental implants for a golden smile and follow that up with exceptional aftercare once the surgery is complete. At every stage of the implant process, we are here to support and guide you.
Contact The Good Dentist’s Newcastle clinic to discuss the type of dental implant that suits your needs.