How Long Do Dental Implants Take to Heal?

If you are missing a tooth or have been told that you require a tooth extraction, you are probably contemplating dental implants. Dental implants are a great long term solution for either of these cases. The process requires surgery to attach a titanium post to the jawbone. This titanium post serves as an anchor for a permanent artificial tooth.

The entire process from beginning to end can take anywhere between 3 to 6 months. This also happens to be how long it takes for the gums and jaw to fully heal. However, the symptoms of the surgery should subside 5 to 7 days after the initial procedure.

Many patients are unaware of what the dental implants procedure entails. It can be daunting to go into a surgery without knowing what to expect. Our team has put together a brief list highlighting what to expect after the surgery along with some tips to make healing easier. You can find those below.

Dental implant surgeries can be done in one stage or in several stages. Every patient’s case is unique. We highly recommend that you book an appointment with our team to speak about your specific needs. Having said that, it is important to prepare for minor discomfort as you would with any surgery. Some of these post-surgery discomforts might include the following:

• Bleeding within 48 – 72 hours

• Swelling of the gums and/or face for up to 2 days

• Bruising of the gums and/or face for 2 – 3 days

• Minor pain and/or discomfort for several days

These are all natural signs that your body is doing the right thing and healing. It is important to note if any of the discomforts listed above get progressively worse or more intense after the third day. If this is the case, you will want to contact the dentist that performed the surgery right away.

Most, if not all, of these symptoms should disappear after a week. It is around this time when the patient can resume back to their normal eating habits. However, there are some occasions when a patient is advised to continue eating soft foods for up to 6 weeks.

The dentist that performs your surgery will give you specific instructions for your recovery. We recommend that you follow those instructions more closely than the tips below. Remember, each case is unique!

Our team has found that the tips below work great for a speedy recovery from dental implants for the majority of our patients.

• Take time to rest for at least 24 hours post-surgery

• Eat soft foods that are cool or warm rather than hot or cold for the first week

• Apply ice to the jaw during the first day

• Avoid any and all strenuous activities for the initial 24 hours

• Rinse with salt water on the second day post-surgery

• Avoid carbonated drinks and alcohol for at least one week

• Avoid smoking for minimum one week

• Be diligent with your oral care

There is a lot to consider when choosing to get dental implants. The information highlighted here is not one size fits all. It is simply a list of common things to expect and tips that can help you heal. Each patient has a very unique situation and we value that greatly. If you are considering dental implants, we would be happy to break down the steps that your personal journey would require during your next appointment.