Dental Implant Surgery: Everything You Should Know

Dental implants to replace missing teeth are gaining popularity and before you get an implant, there are a few things you should know about Dental Implant Surgery. Most of the time, getting a dental implant is not an immediate process. You will have to take several steps to get your implant finished. Read on to learn more.

Why get dental implant surgery?

There are many reasons that an individual may choose to get dental implants. For some, implants offer a better alternative than dentures that can easily slip out of place. For others, dental implants are a more natural alternative. Implants can also prevent bone loss in the jawbone because the implants stimulate the bone. A surgery can allow the dentist to place the implants securely in the jawbone.

Implant surgery

Understanding more about how the surgery is performed can help alleviate any concerns a patient may have. Before the surgery, the patient will receive local anesthesia. In some cases, the patient may also receive general anesthesia. If bone grafts are needed, the grafts will be placed before the dentist adds the implant. The surgery involves cutting into the patient’s jawbone to place the implant. After this, the dentist may sew the area closed to promote healing.

To place the artificial tooth over the implant several months later, the patient may need another surgery. This second dental implant surgery will be much more minor than the first one. All the dentist will need to do is cut the gum to expose the implant.

Recovery from dental implant surgery

After a patient’s dental implant surgery, the patient will need to take some precautions to ensure that the area will heal properly. A patient should not drive home after the surgery because of the general anesthesia. The patient may be given prescription pain relievers or may be instructed to take over-the-counter pain relievers.

It is normal to experience swelling a few days after the surgery. To reduce the likelihood of swelling, a patient can use an ice pack on the area for the first 24 hours after the surgery. It is recommended that the patient use the ice pack for 30 minutes on the area and 30 minutes off the area. While swelling and even bruising is normal, it is important for patients to contact the dentist right away if the symptoms seem to worsen instead of getting better.

For the first several days or weeks after the surgery, the patient will need to eat soft foods such as yogurt and applesauce. This will allow the implant to remain undisturbed and for the surgery site to heal properly.

Visit a dentist today

Knowing more about the dental implant surgery process can help you prepare yourself for the procedure. You can recover from the surgery quickly by following your dentist’s instructions. Keeping the area clean right after the surgery will help to promote healing. Contact a dentist today to start improving your smile.

Request an appointment here: https://smilesonmichigan.com or call Smiles On Michigan at (312) 509-9492 for an appointment in our Chicago office.

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