Length of Recovery Process for Implants
Portland, OR
 You may have just had dental implant surgery and are wondering when you can get back to your life and the things you enjoy doing. This is a common concern that a lot of people have before opting for dental implants.
Our dentists Dr. Dan and Dr. Dan Rodriguez at Portland City Dental have helped countless patients with dental implant surgery and observed a wide range of recovery periods. All things equal, the average dental implant recovery time is three to six months.
Some of the most common factors that influence recovery periods include the patient’s age, overall health, and commitment to post-op instructions. Patients who require bone grafts for their dental implant surgery may have to wait a few additional months.
Bone Grafts and the Impact on the Recovery Process
Some patients may require a bone graft if their jaw does not have a high enough density for the dental implant. In this case, they will have to undergo a bone graft several months before the actual dental implant surgery. The bone graft process takes anywhere from three to six months to fully heal. Our dentists may choose to combine bone graft and dental implant surgeries to expedite healing times. This mostly depends on your overall health. Make sure to follow the instructions to keep the bone graft area clean and make necessary diet changes to increase the healing time.
Dental Implant Surgery
Once our dentists determine that your mouth is ready for dental implants, they will schedule an appointment for the dental implant procedure. It may take anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes for a single implant. The surgery requires local anesthesia, although some patients may request IV sedation if they so choose.
A small incision is made inside the gums to expose the jawbone. A titanium rod is then drilled into the bone.
Most side effects of the surgery will manifest within the first 24 hours and may include nausea, fatigue, and dizziness. This should dissipate the next day. You will be asked to eat soft foods for the next several weeks or months. The actual healing of the jaw can take around nine months and depends on various factors, such as the number of implants and oral health.
You can increase the recovery time for your dental implants by following post-op instructions as provided by your dentist. Here’s how you can look after your dental implants at home:
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Use a soft bristle toothbrush to clean the site at least twice a day to prevent the buildup of germs
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Brush around the implant crown
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Use a low abrasive toothpaste
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Floss daily using an implant specific floss
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Use an oral irrigator |
The ideal candidate for dental implants has good overall health. This means that teeth are free of decay and there is no sign of gum disease. Moreover, patients should also have sufficient bone density to provide support for the dental implants. Our dentists will thoroughly examine your oral health to determine if dental implants are ideal for you.
For more information, call us at (503) 256-7917 to schedule an appointment with our friendly dentists! |
