Healing After Dental Implants – What To Expect

If you’re interested in getting dental implants in Saukville, WI at Sauk Trail Dental, you may be wondering what to expect from surgery, and as you heal. In this blog, we’ll break down the basics, discuss tips for healing after surgery, and go over the typical dental implant healing timeline for most patients.

What To Expect From Dental Implant Surgery

Your dental implant surgery will take 1-2 hours. Dr. Saul Rosenberg will start by cleaning and numbing the treatment area to keep you comfortable. Then, he will make an opening in your gums and jaw bone, and place a small titanium implant in the area.

Next, he will clean up the surgical site and suture it shut. Then, he’ll send you home with a set of recovery instructions to follow as you heal. You’ll also need to come back to our office for some follow-ups in the coming weeks and months.

Tips For Healing After You Get Implants

Wondering what you’ll need to do after surgery? You’ll get a full set of recovery tips from the team at Sauk Trail Dental, but here are a few highlights:

• Take it easy for a few days – Heavy exertion and exercise can cause bleeding and worsen discomfort. Plan to take a few days off from working out!
• Eat soft foods – Soft foods are easier to eat, and won’t irritate or damage the implant site. You’ll need to mostly eat soft foods for up to a week after your surgery.
• Keep up with oral hygiene – You can brush your other teeth normally, but you should rinse your implant site with prescription mouthwash or salt water for three days. After three days, you can start brushing the implant site, but be gentle.
• Don’t smoke, vape, or use tobacco products – Smoking, vaping, and the use of oral tobacco can cause a higher risk of complications after implant surgery. Now is a great time to quit!
  

The Dental Implant Healing Timeline – What To Expect

Generally speaking, it takes most patients around two weeks to fully heal after dental implant surgery, but you can get back to your normal routine after just a day or two. Here’s what to expect:

• 0-24 hours after surgery – Your mouth may be bleeding during this time, and you may experience pain and discomfort once your numbness wears off. Make sure to follow Dr. Rosenberg’s instructions to deal with pain and discomfort.
• 1-3 days after surgery – During this time, symptoms like pain, discomfort, and swelling tend to peak, then fade. You’ll need to eat soft foods during this time, avoid brushing your implant site directly, and avoid heavy exertion.
• 3-7 days after surgery – Your pain and discomfort should start to fade after three days, and you shouldn’t be bleeding. You can get back to exercising, and start incorporating firmer foods into your diet. After about a week, you should not feel much discomfort.
• 1-2 weeks after surgery – After two weeks, your mouth should be completely healed. You shouldn’t feel any significant pain, and you can eat whatever you want and brush and floss normally.

However, even after the initial healing process, it will take 3-6 months for your dental implant to fully bond with your jaw bone. Make sure to come to all of your scheduled appointments and checkups at Sauk Trail Dental as your implant continues to heal.

See If Dental Implants From Sauk Trail Dental Are Right For You!

If you’re missing one or more teeth, dental implants from Sauk Trail Dental are the best way to permanently replace them and restore your smile. Wondering if you’re a good candidate for treatment with dental implants? Contact Sauk Trail Dental online or give us a call at (262) 284-7111 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Rosenberg today.