Dental implant surgery is a highly effective option for replacing missing teeth, whether you’re getting a single dental implant, All-on-X implants, or overdentures. Regardless of the type of procedure, our Greater Jacksonville, FL, dental implant dentists want you to understand what happens post-surgery so you can feel more prepared and at ease.
Here’s what you can expect during the , along with some tips to ensure a smooth healing period.
What Happens Immediately After Surgery
After the procedure, it’s normal to experience some minor bleeding, swelling, and discomfort. Our dentists will provide gauze to help control any bleeding, which should subside within a few hours. Swelling in the gums and around the jaw can peak about 2-3 days post-surgery, but it should gradually reduce after that. Applying ice packs intermittently during the first 24 to 48 hours can help manage this.
Pain after dental implant placement is typically mild to moderate and can be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen. In some cases, our dentists may prescribe stronger medication, depending on the complexity of the surgery and your pain tolerance. We highly encourage you to follow our recommendations closely and avoid strenuous activities for a few days.
Allow Yourself to Rest & Recover
For the first 24 to 48 hours after the procedure, rest is critical. Although dental implant surgery is often performed on an outpatient basis, meaning you can return home the same day, it’s essential to allow your body time to begin healing.
Avoiding intense exercise, heavy lifting, and bending over is crucial to prevent increasing blood pressure and potentially causing bleeding or discomfort around the implant site. Keeping your head elevated while resting and sleeping can help reduce swelling as well.
If you had an All-on-X implant procedure or multiple dental implants placed, your recovery might be slightly longer due to the greater scope of the surgery. Snap-in dentures can also come with unique post-surgery considerations, so be sure to follow any specific guidance provided by our dentists.
Making Diet Adjustments
Your diet will need to be modified for the first few days after to allow proper healing. Stick to soft foods and liquids, such as yogurt, smoothies, mashed potatoes, and soups. Avoid foods that are too hot, spicy, crunchy, or chewy, as these can irritate the surgical site and slow down the healing process.
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Drinking plenty of water is also important, but you should avoid using straws as the suction can dislodge blood clots and disrupt the healing of the surgical site(s). You’ll gradually return to your regular diet once the affected area has initially healed, which usually takes 1-2 weeks.
Oral Hygiene Tips to Follow
Maintaining good is essential to prevent infection. Our dentist will advise you to gently rinse your mouth with a saline solution or a prescribed mouthwash. Avoid vigorous swishing, as this can disturb the healing site.
Brushing your teeth should be done carefully. Be sure to avoid the implant area and focus on cleaning the other teeth during the first few days. As the implant site heals, you can slowly resume normal brushing, but always follow the post-operative care instructions provided by our dentists.
Don’t Skip Follow-up Appointments
To keep tabs on your healing progress, you can expect for follow-up visits to occur after tooth implant surgery. If you’ve undergone a single implant placement, this may happen within a week of the surgery. For more extensive procedures like All-on-X or overdentures, additional follow-up appointments may be necessary to monitor healing, ensure the implants are integrating with the bone, and adjust any temporary prosthetics.
Typically, patients will need to wait several months for the implants to fully integrate into the jawbone (a process known as osseointegration) before permanent crowns, bridges, or overdentures can be attached. Our dentists will let you know when this time comes.
Potential Complications
Although complications are rare, it’s important to be aware of signs that something might be wrong. Persistent or worsening pain, excessive swelling, or prolonged bleeding may indicate a problem and should be addressed immediately by our dentists. Likewise, if you experience signs of infection, such as fever, foul odor, or unusual discharge from the surgical site, contact one of our offices as soon as possible.
Ask for Help Along the Way
The recovery process after this type of oral surgery is generally straightforward, but it’s important to follow the instructions from our dental implant dentists serving Jacksonville, Orange Park, and surrounding areas to ensure proper healing. Whether you’re getting a single-tooth implant, an All-on-X procedure, or overdentures, being well-prepared can help make the experience smoother and more comfortable. Call one of our Quality Dentures & Implants locations today to request an appointment.
