What to Expect with Dental Implant Procedures? EON Clinics
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What to Expect with Dental Implant Procedures?

Those who are considering dental implants will often have questions about what happens before, during, and after the procedure. They are excited about all of the potential benefits the tooth implants can provide, but they also have some concerns over the procedure and the recovery, naturally. Below is some of the most important information regarding these procedures and the recovery. 

Getting Tooth Implants

What happens during the tooth implant procedure? Many patients fear having any sort of procedure done, and that’s normal. However, patients will find that when working with a good, qualified dentist, the procedure tends to be quick and doesn’t cause pain. Most patients have the option of choosing to go under general anesthesia, or they could stay awake during the procedure. The choice is theirs, and they can talk with the dentist about which option might be best for them. 

The tooth implant is surgically implanted into the jawbone. A minimum of four implants are inserted to provide proper support for Full-Arch Restoration. Temporary teeth are created at a lab and will then be attached to the implants. Patients keep the temporary teeth until their jaw is fully healed. At that point, the dentist will replace the temporary teeth with permanent ones. 

How Long Does It Take to Get Dental Implants?

It will depend on how many dental implants are being added. If there is just one, it can often be done in about half an hour. When there is more than one, it could take up to an hour. Those who are getting a full jaw of replacements will find that the procedure could take between two and three hours. The dentist will let patients know the timeline for getting the implants. Each patient is different, which means that the timeline can vary. 

Keep in mind that Full Arch Restoration patients receive temporary teeth on the day of the surgery. These teeth look and function like real teeth, but they will need to be replaced once the jaw heals. This will generally take between six and eight months. Again, each patient is different. 

Is Dental Implant Surgery Painful?

This is one of the most common questions that gets asked. After all, no one wants to have to deal with a lot of pain during or after the procedure. The good news is that for most patients, the pain is minimal. While patients may feel some pain, it is relatively low and easy for most people to handle. Of course, everyone has a different tolerance for pain. For those who feel they are in too much pain, the dentistry team can help to provide extra comfort and pain medication. 

How Long Before Patients Can Go Home After the Tooth Implants?

These procedures require sedation, which means patients will have to wait until it wears off before they can leave after the procedure. Typically, this is around 45 minutes to an hour after the procedure has been finished. The team wants to make sure that the patient is alert and doing well before they are able to leave the office. It is a good idea for patients to have someone take them to and from the appointment on the day of the surgery. 

Recovery from the Dental Implant Procedure

Recovering from the initial procedure tends to be fast in terms of pain and getting life back to normal. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the jaw does not fully heal for several months. Also, because of the nature of the procedure, there will likely be some swelling and may be some bruising afterwards. This should subside within a week or two at most. 

Another question people often ask is how long they have to wait until they can go back to work and resume their regular schedule. Although some may feel that they are ready to go to work the day after their dental implant procedure, it’s a good idea to take some time to rest for three or four days. 

What About Food?

After the procedure, patients will need to be careful of what they eat for a while. The dental care team at the clinic will provide patients with instructions on what they can and can’t do. Typically, for the first 48 hours after the procedure, patients will only be able to have cool foods that don’t require chewing. After that period has passed, they can have warm food, but not hot, for the following two weeks, or longer in some cases. 

Patients also have to keep in mind that for several months, they will have temporary teeth. This means that they need to be eating softer foods during that time, such as ground meat, canned meat, cooked vegetables, etc. Patients can essentially eat what they want after they have the permanent teeth attached.

What Meds Need to Be Taken After Tooth Implants?

After undergoing the tooth implant procedure, patients will generally be prescribed pain medication to use for between three to five days after the procedure. This will help to deal with any pain that lingers in those first few days. The meds prescribed can vary, but the most common will be ibuprofen, Percocet, or Vicodin. 

In addition to the pain meds, the patients will often need to take antibiotics for seven days after the procedure. This will usually be either amoxicillin or clindamycin. The dentist may also recommend that patients use Peridex, a mouth rinse, for a week after the procedure. Always follow the doctor’s guidelines when recovering and taking meds. 

Get in Touch to Learn More

Those who are interested in learning more about the procedure and who are considering dental implant surgery should contact EON Clinics. They are all-in-one clinics that make the process of getting dental implants as fast, easy, and painless as possible. Everything, including the creation of the temporary teeth, is done at the clinic. 

Contact the team to set up a free consultation to talk with the doctors about the best options and to learn the cost. EON Clinics even have payment plans that can help to make the procedure more affordable.