As an implant dentist, we replace damaged or missing teeth on a regular basis. For many of our patients, dental implant surgery doesn't seem like a very big deal. When you consider the speed of recovery and the amount of impact it has after the surgery, there is definitely a case to be made for it being a very low impact surgery. That being said it is important to remember that minor thought it may be, dental implant installations are, in fact, a surgical process. As a patient, you need to remember this and schedule the procedure for when you will be able to do nothing but recover for several days. Avoiding strenuous situations, like lifting heavy objects, for example, is strongly encouraged. The last thing we want is to have you back for a repair surgery or to fix ripped sutures.
Time heals dental implant most effectively. Within the first day, you will experience a great deal of recovery, and should be able to go back to life as usual the following day. Naturally, we recommend staying away from anything overly strenuous for at least 4 to 5 days. The overall recovery from dental implant surgery will take several days, and will involve your active participation to be a success. What you do and the choices that you make will play a critical role in determining how quickly you heal from the surgery. To help you along, we will give you with information and instructions on how to best recover. Following these tips can save you the heartache of a long recovery cycle.
When you leave you will have a prescription for an antibiotic. It is important that you fill this prescription and take the entire course. As with any surgical procedure the greatest risk to a dental implant surgery is an infection. Taking the antibiotic is a precautionary measure that could prevent an infection from occurring. Since antibiotics can be harsh on the stomach, we advise our patients to take the pill with meals or to use a glass of milk. Milk helps to line the stomach and offset the irritation caused by the antibiotic. In addition to the antibiotic, you will also have a medicated oral rinse to use. Combining this rinse with salt water rinses will work to keep the site of the dental implant surgery clean and disinfected. As an implant dentist, this is the only way we advise washing out the area, since you will not be able to brush it for several days because of the stitches and soreness.
Bleeding is perfectly natural and occurs in every case of dental implants being installed. You will notice some blood in your saliva. As an implant dentist, we will give you gauze pads to control the bleeding. Using these gauze pads to put a little pressure on the tooth will help to stop the bleeding and also help with clotting. When holding the gauze in place, use light pressure as too much pressure could result in severe discomfort. If you are having discomfort, as many patients do, after the anesthesia wears off, you can always remedy this with over the counter pain medication like Advil or Tylenol. You can also use a cold compress to help reduce or prevent swelling. Within a couple of days you should feel as good as new, so these are only temporary measures.
