You may well have read a multitude of stories about the dental implant process, the nature of the surgery, and the lengthy recovery process. However for those who have been through it (and there were over 10,000 people last year in the UK who did) they experienced a relatively pain-free process. Clearly the skill and experience of the dental team plays a large part in this, but for most, they were genuinely surprised at how quickly they recovered.
Here at Sheen Dental we’ve been fitting dental implants in Richmond for many years and as such Dr Harmit Kalsi and the team know from experience that nearly every patient is worried not about the surgery per se, but about what to expect after. So with this in mind, we thought that it would be a good idea to share with you an honest insight into what you may experience after surgery; both immediately after, and in the coming weeks.
Immediately after (24 hours)
In the first few hours after dental implant surgery you may feel a little drowsy. This is because you may still be under the influence of the anaesthesia. As a result it’s recommended that you don’t try to drive home and instead get a friend or relative to take you. You may also notice a little blood coming from the implant area. This is perfectly normal and gauze sponges are put in place to not only mop up any small amounts of blood present, but to protect it too. About one to two hours after surgery it’s okay to remove the gauze sponges and have something to eat. This being the case you should avoid any hot food or drink. Instead stick to soft foods that are either tepid or cold. Soup is ideal so long as it isn’t hot and if you are drinking, then avoid drinking through a straw. Once the anaesthetic starts to wear off (usually with 2-4 hours) you may well feel some pain. This is normally kept under control using common-or garden pain killers such as ibuprofen which the clinic should give you. Finally try not to move around too much, especially within the first 24 hours.
One to 3 days after
During this time you may see some facial swelling and bruising. This again is perfectly normal after any kind of surgery and is nature’s way of recovering. Firstly use a cold compress on the outside of the mouth as this will bring the swelling out. After this you may want to use a culmination of both hot and cold compresses whereby you should see the swelling ease considerably. After the first 24 hours or so, you should be okay to partake in food and drink that are hot. However it’s still advisable to eat softer foods such as soup, pasta, and fish and avoid crunchy or chewy foods. In addition after 24 hours you should also resume gentle tooth brushing to maintain good oral health.
3-7 days after
By now you should notice that the facial swelling has all but disappeared as it generally peaks around 3-4 days after surgery. You should now find that you can carry on as normal. However try and avoid any strenuous exercise or stooping and bending. You may still only want to eat soft foods but it might be advisable to try and bring in a bit of texture such as well cooked vegetables, or softer fruits such as bananas or plums.
7-14 days after
During this period is when you should notice the most improvement. You should find that you can slowly start to re-introduce all kinds of different foods into your diet as you see fit. However you may still want to avoid hard to chew or crunchy foods such as apples, raw vegetables, steaks and toffees. A little light exercise can be undertaken, but avoid heavy cardio-vascular activities such as running.
14 days and beyond
By now your implants should be healing really well and you should be back to leading a normal life. Your dentist will want to see you again (normally around 3-4 weeks after surgery) to make sure everything is going okay. Then they will want to see you again to uncover the implant and make a final fitting of the abutment and the prosthetic crown (this is usually 4-6 months after surgery).
As you can see, when it comes to undergoing treatment for dental implants in Richmond or indeed anywhere else in the country, the recovery process is relatively speedy, although it does differ from patient to patient. If you want to find out more information about the whole process and would like to get your questions answered, then contact us on 020 8876 5277 or visit our website at www.sheendental.co.uk and book your free, no obligation consultation today.
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