Dental implant surgery is arguably the best tooth-replacement procedure available today. This procedure involves placing a titanium post into the jawbone and then placing a crown on the post once it’s safely settled and secure in the mouth.
The procedure will make your new tooth indistinguishable from the original natural tooth. It may involve the use of anesthesia and may also require bone grafting if the jaw does not appear strong enough to support the post.
Dental Implant Recovery Timeline
The recovery and regrowth will start as soon as the implant post has been inserted into your jawbone. This will begin with osseointegration, the process through which the body generates new bone to support the implant. With time, the implant post will become a part of the mouth, despite being artificial.
The dental implant recovery time will depend on a lot of variables, which also vary from patient to patient. However, you can expect osseointegration to take a few months, although you’ll have a temporary crown in place during this time.
Recovery Tips
You’ll want to keep the surgery area dry and clean, at least for the first two to three days after the procedure. There may be a little bleeding or swelling while your body recovers and adjusts to the new implant post inserted in your mouth.
You’ll also want to brush gently while also avoiding hard or chewy foods or other things that can get stuck in the implant area. These may include nuts, rice and popcorn. You should also avoid strenuous physical activities and exercise for a few days after your surgery. These may increase the occurrence of bleeding, swelling and pain during the recovery phase and eventually prolong the time needed for recovery.
There will be followup appointments with your dentist after the implant surgery. This is needed to monitor your recovery and also to ascertain when you’ll be ready to have the permanent crown installed. Although this will depend on your body and a few other factors, this can take anywhere from three to six months.
For more information about dental implants, or to schedule an appointment, call us today at 425-366-7983.
