Dental implants are complex and serious procedures, but they do have high success rates. When it comes to healing time for the dental implant process, each patient’s mileage may vary. Many factors can impact the healing rate, including the following:
- How many teeth were affected by the procedure
- If the surgery required bone or gum grafting
- If the patient has gum disease, periodontal disease, or poor oral health in general
Every patient will heal differently no matter how well they follow their treatment plan, with some people taking longer to heal than others. While natural teeth are not impacted by dental implant surgery, tooth roots may become irritated after the procedure.
FREE DENTAL PICTURE BY AUTHORITY DENTAL UNDER CREATIVE COMMONS 2.0
Are dental implants painful to have placed?
Dental implants are tiny pieces of titanium implanted into the patient’s jaw below the gum line. Implanted metal that is fusing to the jawbone will not be an entirely painless procedure. Most patients will have pain and swelling at the site for a time. The type of replacement tooth procedure you have done will impact post-surgical pain and healing times.
- For a single tooth replacement, the periodontist will put in one artificial tooth within the gum tissue. If the person has healthy gums and teeth, the pain will be minimal and so will healing times.
- Most patients will undergo a moderate implant procedure where they will need several replacement teeth. There will be more swelling and bruising than in a single tooth replacement. The healing process usually takes seven to fourteen days after which they can resume normal tooth brushing.
- In difficult procedures, the pain and the healing times are more pronounced, with longer recovery times. These patients will have many implants and may need to maintain gentle dental care regimens for up to six weeks post-surgery.
What is peri-implant disease?
Without proper dental care, bacteria can gather around the base of the implant. Peri-implant diseases are a group of inflammatory conditions caused by bacteria build up around the implant. There are many way patients can reduce the chances of peri-implant disease from gaining a foothold:
- Quit smoking for at least one month post-surgery
- Don’t drink alcohol
- Only eat healthy and soft cold or lukewarm foods
- Softly brush the implants regularly
- Do not exercise for at least four days after getting implants
At Central Periodontics in Canberra, we’ve been helping patients devise and stick to comprehensive treatment plans for their post-surgical recovery. If you’re wondering whether or not you’re a candidate for dental implants, contact us today to explore your options. Give us a call on 02 6247 6555.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.