Dental Implants Recovery and Care Q&A

A dental implant is done over several stages and over several months. The first thing that is done is a thorough examination of the patient’s teeth, gums, and jawbone which usually involves an X-ray or other diagnostic imaging, like a CT scan. Dr. Cory Nguyen, DDS will also check the condition of the nerves, sinuses, and bone structure around the area to be treated. Someone who has a compromised jaw – either a low bone density or injury – may need a bone graft to make the jaw strong enough to support the implant. If this is necessary, it will delay the treatment significantly as it can take anywhere from three months to a year before the bone is ready to take the implant.

The next stage is the placement of the implant which entails holes being drilled into the jawbone and the implant is screwed into place. This is usually done with a local anesthetic, but IV sedation may be available for particularly anxious patients. Once the implant has been placed, the gum around it is stitched and secured over it to protect it until it is time for the abutment to be attached. This stage can take up to six months as the bone heals and the implant fuses with the bone.

Installing the abutment is the next stage. The abutment is an extension that is attached to the implant and protrudes past the gum line and into the mouth. It is on the abutment that the crown will be fixed. The gum has to be opened above the implant to facilitate the attachment and is then stitched back into place – around the abutment, but not over it. After the abutment has been placed it takes about two weeks for the gum to heal completely and it is then time to fit the artificial tooth or crown. While the gum is healing the dentist may give the patient a temporary, removable crown to cover the appearance of the metal post sticking out of the gum where a tooth should be.

There are many factors that contribute to recovery following dental implant surgery. The body will need time to recover after each stage of the process and, depending on how many implants were done and if bone grafts were needed, recovery can take from as little as 1 to 2 days to two weeks. It’s common to have pain and slight bleeding around the implant site, swollen or bruised gums, or a swollen face, and these symptoms should ease in a few days, however, if they appear to be getting worse the dentist may need to prescribe antibiotics or stronger painkillers.

It is crucial to maintain good oral hygiene while recovering from a dental implant. Brush and floss every day to keep gums, implants, and remaining natural teeth healthy. In the first 24 hours, it may be helpful to have a mouthwash or a warm saltwater solution (do not use a regular mouthwash or peroxide rinse) and gentle tooth brushing can resume on the second day. Any medications that have been prescribed should be taken as directed.

Implanted teeth are usually just as strong as natural teeth and function in exactly the same way, so it is important to also treat them in exactly the same way: brush, floss, rinse and have regular dental check-ups and cleaning. Dental implants are susceptible to normal wear and tear so the better they’re looked after, the stronger they’ll be and the longer they will last. It is also important to take good care of the gum tissue surrounding the implants, as the health of the gums has a direct effect on the health and strength of the supporting jawbones.

If you would like to know more about our dental implant services, contact Beyond Dental & Implant Center today! We are accepting new patients. We are conveniently located at 13655 Preston Rd Suite 100 Dallas, TX 75240. We serve patients from Dallas TX, Plano TX, Addison TX, Garland TX, Richardson TX, Carrollton TX, and BEYOND! We look forward to meeting you!