What to Expect During Dental Implant Recovery?

You may be planning to get replacements for your missing tooth or teeth. Well, it’s fair to assume that you want your new teeth to look like your natural teeth. So, any shifting or falling out won’t do. And that’s the benefit of getting implants. They fuse onto your jawbone under your gums and function as your original teeth. So, whether you’re struggling with dental bridges or dentures or need a dental crown, new dental implants give you something to be proud of.

What are Dental Implants?

These metal fixtures are surgically fastened to the jawbone below your gums. This’s where the artificial teeth are mounted. This procedure provides stable support that one can rely on relying while speaking and eating.

Dental Implants Procedure

The dental implant procedure in Hamilton, ON, requires multiple steps in three to nine months. It includes:

Evaluation

The dentist begins by evaluating your jawbone, tooth, and gums. This helps determine whether one has enough healthy jawbone to maintain the dental implant.

If your jawbone is too weak, soft, or thin, a bone graft procedure may be performed before beginning the implant procedure. In addition, your gums must be healthy and free from periodontal disease.

Placing the Dental Implant

If one has an endosteal tooth implant:

• Your dentist cuts the gum and exposure the jawbone underneath.
• They’ll drill the holes deep into the bone where the dental implant will be inserted.
• If one chooses, a temporary, removable dental denture is placed over the hole. This’s for aesthetic purposes until the permanent tooth is attached to the implant.

If one has the subperiosteal implant, their jawbone won’t be drilled, and the dental implant is placed above or on the bone.

However, you’ll feel discomfort and swelling afterward, no matter the type of implant you’ll receive. The pain lasts for several days.

Osseointegration

After placing the implant, it takes two to six months before there’s enough bone growth around the screw. This procedure is known as osseointegration, meaning the implant combines with the bone.

Abutment Placement

An abutment is a metal extender that’s added to the dental implant. This is done during the initial or second implant procedure under a local anesthetic.

Abutments help connect the replacement tooth to the dental implant. If it’s added during a second minor procedure, an incision will be made if your gum tissue has grown over the dental implant. The dentist places a healing cap over the implant after placement. While the cap protects the dental implant, it helps prevent tissue from growing over it.

During the second minor procedure, the healing cap is removed, and the abutment is screwed onto the implant. The gum tissue then contours around the abutment. The gums take several weeks to heal after the abutment is placed.

Placing the Tooth

When the healing is complete, your dentist takes an impression of your teeth so that the permanent replacement teeth are made to fit. The teeth can be removable or fixed.

If one opts for a removable tooth, the dentist will mount it onto a metal frame and attach it to the abutment. If you choose a fixed tooth, your dentist will cement or screw it permanently onto the abutment.

What to Expect During Healing Time

You’ll experience some tenderness and soreness when recovering from dental implants, which is common. However, it should be fading and feeling better each day. If the pain or discomfort worsens, please get in touch with us at Rymal Family Dental. Swelling also occurs on the face near the surgical area and eases one two to three days.

You should try applying ice to the face and take an anti-inflammatory drug to help decrease any discomfort or swelling. One may have a slight temperature after the procedure, but it shouldn’t exceed 101.5. If this occurs, please call our dentist immediately. Also, you may feel some dizziness or nausea because of some medications. However, this is normal and should fade away within 24 hours after the use of those medications.

How Long It Takes to Recover Fully

Several factors contribute to the recovery period for a dental implant procedure. For example, if one only received one or two dental implants and didn’t receive tissue or bone grafts, recovery takes 1-2 days. On the other hand, if one received many implants and needed grafts, recovery takes 1-2 weeks. Other factors are health, age, and hygiene.