Dental implant surgery is an invasive tooth replacement procedure that requires substantial recovery time between treatment stages, typically from two to six months. Dental implants are a permanent, natural-looking way to replace missing teeth, but the success of the implant surgery partially depends on the care you take during your recovery period. Get a free consultation at your local dental clinic to learn what to expect after teeth implant surgery. Your dentist will explain your post-surgical care plan to ensure a faster recovery.
The First 24 Hours
Dental implant surgery is typically performed as an outpatient procedure in a dentist’s chair. Depending on the type of anaesthesia administered, you may feel drowsy for up to 24 hours after surgery. At DDII, we offer twilight sedation in addition to local anaesthetic for anxious patients. Ensure that you arrange for someone to drive you home if you request sedation during your dental implant surgery.
Because we use digital technology to perform guided flapless surgery, you experience less bleeding and require no sutures. Your dentist will give you a piece of gauze to bite down on to help a clot form at the implant site. Ensure that you change the gauze every 30 minutes if the wound is still bleeding.
Once the anaesthesia has worn off, you can expect to feel some discomfort, swelling, and tenderness around the surgical site. There may also be minor bleeding or oozing.
You’ll need to consume a soft food diet consisting of nutrient-dense foods to avoid irritating the soft tissue. You should also avoid rinsing or brushing for the first 24 hours to prevent the clot from dislodging. Your dentist may prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection. During your free consultation with your dentist, you can discuss any concerns you might have prior to your surgery. At Digital Dental Implant Institute, we’ll provide you the instruction to follow.
The First Week
You can resume your normal oral hygiene routine once the clot has properly developed over the wound. Use an ultra-soft toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste, and avoid brushing directly on the dental implant.
Any facial swelling and discomfort should subside between three to seven days after dental implant surgery. You can alleviate any discomfort during that period by applying an ice pack to your face intermittently for 20 minutes at a time. You can also take over-the-counter medications, such as ibuprofen or paracetamol to reduce inflammation and soreness. Do not take aspirin as this thins your blood and disrupts clot formation.
Although you should still avoid hard, crumbly, or spicy foods, you can slowly incorporate more solid foods into your diet, such as soft fish, porridge, rice, and steamed vegetables.
Two to Six Weeks After Surgery
Your dental implants should be almost healed two to three weeks after surgery. Ensure that you schedule a follow-up appointment with the team at DDII so your dentist can check that the dental implants are healing correctly.
Full osseointegration usually occurs between 3-6 months and depends on the complexity of your dental implant surgery as well as your overall health. Once the implant has fully bonded with the jawbone, we can book your appointment to attach the abutment and restoration.
Prepare for Your Dental Implant Surgery at DDII
At Digital Dental Implant Institute, we offer a range of dental implant services from full-arch solutions to single dental implants, all using our DIOnavi system technology. We also offer digital radiography, teeth whitening, and invisible orthodontics.
The cost of our dental implants varies based on several factors, such as the quality of your jawbone (whether you need a bone graft), the number of implants, and the type of implants. Call us today on (02) 4058 2836 or fill out our online form to request a free consultation to find out more about our payment plans or what to expect after teeth implant surgery.
