If you’re thinking about getting dental implants and have been reading up on the procedure, then you likely already know that it takes around 4-6 months to fully heal from the surgery.
This is because the process called “osseointegration,” during which the tissues and bone fuse to the implant, is really slow.
Here’s a complete breakdown of the dental implant healing process to fully understand what the procedure involves:
1. First Day Post Op
For the first few hours after your surgery, you will likely not feel anything since you’ll still be under the effects of the anesthetic. However, once that slowly wears off, some mild to moderate pain can be expected.
Right after the metal post is inserted into the jaw, Dr. Adam Lamprecht will have you bite down on a gauze, which will help form a blood clot. It’s very important to care for this clot and prevent it from dislodging by chewing on the other side of your mouth, eating softer foods, and not brushing directly over the implant site for a few days.
You should also rest after the procedure and avoid strenuous physical activity for the first few days to reduce the risk of bleeding. Dr. Lamprecht may recommend taking some OTC pain medication to control pain and swelling.
2. Three Days Post Op
The great news is that as time goes by, you will experience less and less discomfort after your dental implant procedure.
By day 3, most patients only experience some minor pain and swelling, but bleeding usually goes away completely. However, even if you feel perfectly fine, it’s still important to make sure you don’t dislodge the blood clot, so continue to chew your food on the other side of the mouth, and don’t brush the implant site.
3. One Week Post Op
After a week, things will mostly get back to normal. You start eating more solid foods and even go back to the gym (although avoid over-exercising).
You may want to skip brushing the implant site for a little longer, just to be sure. The implant site will have mostly closed by this point, but every patient is different.
4. Two Weeks Post Op
At this stage, our Fremont dentist will see you for a follow-up consultation just to take a look at the implant site and make sure everything is in order.
By the second week post-op, most patients can go back to normal, so you will likely not feel any more discomfort. What’s left now is to wait for all the bone and tissues to fuse to the implant and complete your procedure!
Restore Your Smile at Fremont Family Dentistry
Dr. Adam Lamprecht is here to help you find out if dental implants are the right choice to give you the healthy smile you deserve!
Book an implant consultation at Fremont Family Dentistry today!