What Can I Expect From The Healing Process After Dental Implants?

If you’re getting dental implants in Clermont from Clermont Family Dentistry, you may be wondering what the healing and recovery process is like. In this blog, we’ll break down the basics about what you can expect after your implant surgery.

1. It Takes About 1-2 Weeks To Fully Heal From Implant Surgery

For the first 1-3 days, you can expect pain and discomfort, but this does not usually interfere with your day-to-day life. Most people go back to work the day after their surgery.

The time it takes to heal and recover will vary depending on your case, but most patients will recover fully within 1-2 weeks.

2. Bleeding Is Normal Up To 48-72 Hours After Surgery

Blood may ooze from your implant site up to 48-72 hours after surgery. This is normal. Leave your gauze pads in place after surgery, and change them as directed by Dr. Buechele if they become soaked with blood. If your mouth continues to bleed a lot after this time, schedule a follow-up at Clermont Family Dentistry.

3. Swelling Should Be Expected, Too 

Swelling is your body’s natural response to injuries, including surgery. You can expect swelling for about 3-4 days after surgery. After this, it should subside significantly as you heal and recover.

4. You’ll Need To Adjust Your Diet To Heal Properly

You will need to eat a diet of mostly soft foods for at least 1-2 weeks after your appointment. Stick to foods like mashed potatoes, smoothies, milkshakes, mac and cheese, yogurt, applesauce, broth-based soups, and so on. Dr. Buechele will give you a full list of dietary recommendations to follow after your treatment. 

5. You’ll Get Stitches & Will Need A Followup At Our Office

The area around your implant will be stitched shut. These sutures dissolve themselves about 3-5 days after surgery, but you’ll still need to come in for a followup at Clermont Family Dentistry 1-2 weeks after surgery. This lets Dr. Buechele check on your progress and ensures that the healing and recovery process is going smoothly. 

6. Proper Oral Hygiene Is Important While You Heal

For the first 24 hours after your appointment, you can gently rinse with salt water to clean your implant site. After 24 hours, you can brush normally, but be careful and gentle around the implant site. We recommend avoiding electric toothbrushes until your mouth has fully recovered.

7. You Must Avoid Smoking At All Costs

Smoking dramatically increases your risk of implant failure. You should not smoke while your mouth is healing from surgery, and it’s recommended to avoid smoking throughout the entire 3-6 month process of “osseointegration,” which is when the implant bonds with your jaw bone. This is the perfect opportunity to quit smoking! 

Got More Questions? Schedule An Appointment At Clermont Family Dentistry!

We know that getting a dental implant can be an intimidating process. But if you’re interested in permanently restoring your smile, Dr. Buechele is here to help. Contact us online or call us at (352) 242-1763 to schedule an appointment right away, learn more about dental implant surgery, and find out if you’re a good candidate for dental implants in Clermont.