Installing dental implants requires the skill of a dentist or oral surgeon to carry out. This is because implant installations are a surgical procedure, where a tiny titanium screw is placed into the jawbone. There the implant will gradually take on the role of the “root”, working in a symbiotic relationship with the bone itself. Considering that this is, in fact, a surgical procedure you should be prepared to allocate some time to recovery. The first step of the recovery is to overcome the effects of the anesthesia. Since you will have some level of anesthesia to remain comfortable, we recommend that you bring a designated driver with you. It is not advisable to drive while still recovering from anesthesia, and if you have a driver you can head home sooner.

For several days after dental implants have been placed, you will need to take it easy. This means you will need to avoid strenuous activity, like heavy lifting, that may cause bleeding and could lead to a longer recovery time. It is important to remember that, however minor, you have undergone surgery to install your implants and as such your body needs to take some time to heal. We will give you a “to-do” list that you must follow in order to expedite your recovery. Typically you should be back to normal within twenty-four to forty-eight hours while complete recovery take a little longer.

The first step to recovery from dental implants surgery is to make sure that no infection can set in. The most prominent risk, associated with any surgery, is that of infection. To ensure that this does not happen, we will give you a prescription for an antibiotic medicine. This course will typically start the day after the surgery and run for several days. Antibiotics can be harsh on the stomach, so it is recommended that you take this medication with a meal or follow it with a glass of milk. In conjunction with the antibiotic, we will also give you an oral medicated rinse. Use the rinse 3 or 4 times every day, and also rinse with salt water the same number of times. Rinsing with the medication and salt will help to keep the site clean and disinfected, going a long way to preventing any kind of infection from appearing.

Dental implants, after being surgically installed, will bleed for the first twenty-four hours. This is perfectly natural with the bleeding slowing down and eventually stopping after the first day. To deal with the bleeding, we will provide you with gauze pads that you can apply to the site. Using only the lightest of pressure, you can stem the light bleeding and help to expedite the clotting process, which stops the bleeding completely. Finally, you will experience some discomfort for several days. This can be easily remedied using over the counter pain medications like Advil, Motrin, or Tylenol in the recommended doses.

This procedure does take a few days to recover from, but it is worth the time and effort since afterward, you will have a new permanent replacement for the tooth or teeth that you have lost.  If you have further questions about recovering from the procedure, call our office and schedule a consultation.