More people than ever before are choosing dental implants to restore the cosmetic appearance of their smile, improve the natural look and feel of their teeth, prevent bone loss, restore bite force, and ultimately, improve the quality of their lives.
And although dental implants are not as invasive as other dental surgeries, following your dental implant procedure, you will need to take a number of steps to protect your new implants during the healing process.
We’ve created a helpful guide outlining what you can expect during the healing stages.
How Long Do Dental Implants Take to Heal?
As a general rule of thumb, the vast majority of patients are fully recovered after 2 weeks. However, it’s not uncommon for the implant site to feel slightly tender to the touch until it has completely healed, which usually takes around 3–6 months for the implant to heal and bond with the jaw bone.
What to Expect After Getting a Dental Implant?
Before choosing dental implants to enhance the look and feel of your smile, it’s important to familiarise yourself with the healing process so that you can decide whether this is the right option for you.
Here’s what to expect during the dental implant healing stages.
Initial Healing Stage (0–2 Weeks)
During this time, it’s not uncommon to experience some element of facial swelling and bruising, which is perfectly normal. Many patients find that using a cold compress on the outside of the mouth helps with swelling.
After the first 24 hours, you should be able to eat and drink hot food again, however, you should still opt for softer foods such as soup, pasta, and fish and avoid crunchy or chewy foods. It is during the first two weeks that you should notice the most improvement.
Osseointegration Phase (2-4 Months)
After 2–4 months, your dental implants should be healing well, and the vast majority of patients are able to live a happy and normal life with their implants. At this stage, your dental practitioner will ask to see you again to make sure that your implants are settling well and everything is as it should be.
Final Restoration Stage
Once the implant has fully integrated with the bone, the final restoration stage involves your dentist attaching a dental crown, bridge, or denture to the implant.
This process involves making an impression of the implant and the surrounding teeth, which is used to create the final restoration.
Care Tips During Dental Implant Healing Stages
Dental implant aftercare is incredibly important, especially when it comes to optimising results.
And, there are a number of care tips that you should follow throughout the healing process, including the following:
- Do not take part in any strenuous exercise for the first few days after surgery
- Avoid hot food and drinks for the first 24 hours
- Try not to disturb the area with your tongue or fingers
- Avoid alcohol
- Avoid smoking for two weeks, as this will slow down the healing process
- Avoid brushing the surgical site for the first few days
- If you have a denture that covers the surgical area, you should wear it as little as possible for the first week to protect
- the surgical site during its initial healing period.
Of course, your dentist will provide you with all the aftercare tips you need to follow.
How to Know if It is Restoring Correctly?
After a few days, swelling should reduce, and this is a sign that your dental implants are healing as they should be. If you experience a fever, pain that doesn’t feel normal, or you suspect you have an infection, you should always consult your dental specialist or medical professional right away.
Dental Implant Recovery Time
After 2 weeks, the vast majority of patients are fully recovered. However, it’s not uncommon for the implant site to still feel tender to the touch. It then takes around 3–6 months for the implant to heal and bond with the jawbone.
Single Tooth Implant
A single-tooth implant will be well on its way to healing after 2 weeks, however, typically, a single-tooth implant will take 6–12 weeks to heal completely. During this time, the new artificial tooth root will fuse with your jawbone and become a lot stronger.
Full Mouth Implants
On average, full-mouth dental implant healing takes about four to six months.
Conclusion
if you’re looking to replace a missing tooth or teeth that will last a lifetime, dental implants are a great option. However, as with any aesthetic procedure, you should always do your research when it comes to determining whether this is the right option for you.
Dental implants provide full functionality for your teeth and achieve optimum aesthetic results when replacing one or many. Cost-effective and a fantastic long-term solution, dental implants also look, feel, and function like a natural tooth.
Boutique Dental 23 in Wigan offers a range of dental care services performed by a team of expert dentists. Whether you need to fix a chip or close an unwanted gap, they have the perfect solution.
To arrange a consultation or for more information about dental implants and how we can help you enhance your smile, get in touch with the friendly team today.
