Recovery time for dental implant

Dental implants are placed surgically in the jaw bone. Though it is not a major surgery still care should be taken by the time implant integrates with the bone. Healing process varies from person to person. It depends on your general metabolism and diet also. You must have noticed that cuts and wounds heal very fast in one person and the same would may take days to heal in another individual. So healing is a very subjective thing in terms of duration. But the process and precautions are same.

Initial 24 – 48 hours after surgery are the most crucial ones because primary healing takes place in this duration. All the post surgery instructions should be strictly followed. Like cold and soft diet for first 24 hours, no spitting or rinsing for 24 hours,no smoking for 2- 4 days, warm saline rinses 4-6 times a day after 24 hours and take the prescribed medicines properly. Hot beverages shouldn’t be consumed for 24 hours after surgery. Use of straw is prohibited few days after surgery. Soft diet and careful brushing on the affected area is advisable.

First 2- 3 days are most uncomfortable after surgery. Initially liquid or soft semisolid diet is preferred. As healing commences you can continue with your normal diet. Skipping meals is not advisable.

Exercise should be avoided for a couple of days after surgery because Bending, lifting, or strenuous activity may result in increased bleeding, swelling and pain increasing discomfort and delaying healing.

It takes a week to 10 days in healings of gum tissues at surgery site. After that stiches are removed.
You may get post operative swelling due to bone drilling which subsides gradually with time. Swelling may be more pronounced if bone grafting is done but pain is under control with medicines and proper care.

Dental implant recovery time and the healing process can be delayed or impaired from smoking, poor diet, excessive alcohol use and lack of dental care such as proper brushing and food lodgement at surgery site. Oral hygiene is essential to ensure that no plaque or infection builds up around the gums which may delay healing.

The initial soft tissue healing takes 1- 2 weeks but the internal healing and bone formation continues and take 3-6 months depending on your bone density and health. It takes more time if bone grafting is done. You shouldn’t chew on the surgery site because inadvertent pressure on the overlying bone may hamper the bone formation specially for at least a month. Xrays are done at intervals to evaluate the amount of bone formed. Once the implant is completely integrated with the bone, the artificial tooth is securely fixed.

Healing in implants surgery is smooth with least discomfort. Unless you are negligent in following the instructions, you won’t be facing much difficulty in that phase.