Patients considering dental implants may want to know how long the healing process will take. A dental implant is a small screw that acts as a substitute tooth root. This provides a stable foundation for single-tooth crowns, bridges, or dentures. Every patient is unique, and recovery time depends on several factors, including the patient’s general state of health, quality of bone tissue, and quantity of bone tissue. However, generally speaking, most patients have an initial recovery period of two weeks with complete healing and bonding with the jaw bone over the following three to six months.
What Is the Process for Healing From Dental Implant Surgery?
Dental implants are considered minor surgery. Immediately after placing the implant, a gauze pack will be applied to help a blood clot form. After one or two hours, the bleeding should slow down. As the anesthetic and numbing agents from the surgery wear off, there may be pain and discomfort. Ibuprofen is helpful for many patients, and any swelling can be treated with ice packs on the cheek. Prescription painkillers can also be prescribed if necessary. It is best to rest after dental implant surgery and not return to work that day. A diet of soft foods should be followed for at least the first three days.
During these first three days, exercise and exertion should be avoided, and the dental implant site should not be brushed directly. Instead, an oral rinse should be used to clean that part of the mouth while brushing the rest of the teeth normally. Pain and swelling may increase during this time and then gradually go away.
Foods like pasta can be introduced three days after surgery, but hard and crunchy foods still need to be avoided so that the healing of the dental implant site can continue undisturbed. Mild exercise should be okay, but pain could be felt at the implant site during heavy exertion. Using the oral rinse is essential for a whole week after surgery.
After the first week of healing is complete, a follow-up appointment will determine how the recovery process is going, and any non-dissolving stitches will be removed. The implant site can be brushed directly, and a regular diet may be resumed. Tough or crunchy foods may still be difficult to chew and should be eaten on the side of the mouth opposite the implant site.
Most patients are healed after the second week. From this point on, the implant will continue the process of osteointegration or bonding with the jaw bone over the next three to six months.
Our South Jersey Oral Surgeons at Lanzi Burke Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons Regularly Perform Dental Implant Surgery
Contact our experienced South Jersey oral surgeons at Lanzi Burke Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons if you need dental implants. Contact us online or call 856-582-4222 to schedule an appointment. Located in Washington Township, Haddonfield, and Woolwich Township, New Jersey, we serve patients throughout South Jersey.