Before & After Your Dental Implant Procedure

If you’ve lost one or more teeth, dental implants in Lewisville allow you to rebuild your smile using a solution that can last for a lifetime. As the only prosthetic to replicate the entire tooth structure, you will need oral surgery to insert a titanium post into your jawbone. There’s no need to worry. Here’s what you can expect before and after your placement surgery.

Preparing for Dental Implant Surgery

Before your placement surgery, you’ll need to have an extensive consultation and a CT scan to create your customized treatment plan. It’s important to tell your dentist about any medications or supplements you’re taking to ensure there aren’t any adverse complications. Your dentist will review any instructions with you before your appointment, like stopping certain medications or fasting.

Sedation or anesthesia are used to ensure your comfort during the surgery, but it can take a few hours for the effects of the medication to dissipate. As a result, you’ll need to arrange transportation to and from your appointment. It’s also best to have a loved one or friend stay with you for a few hours until the medication wears off.

After your surgery, the last thing you’ll want to worry about are your meals; therefore, take time to prepare some before your appointment. It’s best to eat softer foods for a few days until your mouth heals, like pasta, smoothies, or soups. As your gum tissue heals, you can reintroduce harder foods; however, avoid anything that’s overly hard or sharp, like taco shells or chips.

Once you arrive home from your surgery, it’s best to spend the remainder of the day resting. Be sure to take any prescribed medications as recommended and follow your dentist’s aftercare instructions.

Recovering from Dental Implant Surgery

As with any surgery, you can expect there to be some discomfort while you heal. You can manage it with over-the-counter pain relievers. You can also apply a cold compress to the outside of your mouth to reduce any swelling or bruising.

It’s best to spend at least 3 days taking it easy. Your dentist will advise you to skip any strenuous exercise until you’re feeling better. It’s important to maintain your oral hygiene according to your dentist’s instructions; however, be careful when cleaning near the healing surgical sites.

As each day passes, you’ll notice your discomfort dissipating. At the end of 2 to 3 weeks, your gum tissue will be healed, but it will take your jawbone a few more weeks to fuse to the posts. After you’ve fully healed, you’ll move on to the next step in your treatment.

Invest in Your Smile

Although the process of rebuilding your smile with dental implants will require oral surgery, there’s no need to worry. Your dentist will explain the process and address your concerns to put your worries at ease.

About Dr. Christopher Capehart

Dr. Christopher Capehart believes a beautiful smile can change your whole life. He offers advanced services to resolve complex oral health issues, like tooth loss. He can help you regain a complete smile with dental implants. Contact our office today to replace your missing teeth.