The Dental Implant Healing Timeline – What To Expect After Implants
Definition of Dental Implant
Dental implants are innovative dental procedure, in which artificially created tooth are inserted into the jawbone. This is the modern solution of filling the empty space between teeth, from where tooth is extracted. Hole is created into the jaw bone, into which artificial tooth is screwed tightly and then covered with crown to give protection to the tooth.
Importance of Understanding Healing Time
Understanding healing timeline is very important to estimate the success rate of the dental implant. Its healing process involves a number of steps to determine long term healing effectiveness. It is very important for patient to follow the guidelines and actively participate in Post operative care for good results.
Early Post Procedure Period
Surgical site care
Immediately after the surgery, care of surgical site is very important by following guidelines and instructions. Usually, instructions are given by the dentist that should be followed strictly. These instructions includes;
- Gently rinsing with antibacterial mouthwash.
- Avoid vigorous brushing and hard tooth brushes.
- Avoid consuming hard and hot food.
Adhering to these guidelines will help you to avoid unnecessary infection and complications.
Initial Healing
This is critical phase of healing. In this phase blood clots are formed around the surgical site. They play vital role in healing process. Osseointegration process begins in this stage, it is a process in which jawbone fuses with the root of artificial implanted tooth. Additionally, healthy diet is required in this phase to provide excess nutrition to your body for faster healing process.
Management of Pain and Discomfort
Managing pain and discomfort during the initial phase of healing process is very important. To overcome such conditions, dentist recommend some painkillers like acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Except these, it is instructed to avoid strenuous activities that can dislodge clot and cause bleeding. These few points are very important to get faster and healthier healing process. Continuous appointments and communication with the dentist is one of the key factor in managed and maintained dental implant healing.
First week of surgery
After first week of surgery, patient faces different conditions depending on their symptoms. What a patient feel after one week or what he has to do, is discussed below;
Bruises And Swelling
In the first week after dental implant surgery, it is common that every patient feel swelling and bruises varying from person to person. This is the natural process of healing, healing starts in such circumstances. To lower the swelling or bruises anti inflammatory drugs are recommend by the dentist. Messaging with ice packs around the area of swelling will help to lower the swelling. It will decrease the pressure in that area, thus decrease swelling in that area.
Oral Hygiene Routine
Oral hygienic practice plays important role in the first healings phase of dental implants. However, gentle care around the area is recommended. Never brush vigorously and never rinse your mouth fastly, because it can damage the clot that is formed on the healing surface. Always perform hygienic practices carefully and it is important to follow the doctor’s instructions in this regard.
Diet Routine
Healthy and safe diet routine is very necessary for good healing procedure. It is very important to choose diet carefully in first week after the surgery. According to doctor’s recommendations, always use soft and liquid food in the first week after surgery. Avoid spicy, hot, hard and sugary food. Hydrated body is key factor for faster healing, drink adequate water as it helps in tissue repair and minimize complications.
2 to 4 Weeks After Surgery
Osseointegration and Soft Tissues Healing
The process of soft tissues healing and osseointegration is continued from 2nd to the 4th week after the surgery. Healing of soft tissues including gums continue to repair and adapt the presence of implantation. Swelling reduces and patient starts feeling comfort during this period of time. Bone cells start growing and attach to the Implant surface, patience is very important during this phase to allow uninterrupted healing.
Implant Stability
Monitoring implant stability after the surgery is very important. Dentist can apply various techniques to check out stability of the dental implants such as, gentle tapping, diagnostic imaging etc. Instability test is used to check out the ability, how much pressure implants can bear. Regular appointments are required to maintain the proper stability of dental implants.
Appointments with doctor
Regular appointments are very important to track complete healing process and make necessary measures. During these visits, dentist make assessment regarding healing procedure and further steps. X-rays can be used to monitor bone density. These appointments will allow patient to discuss any confusion he is facing.
Factors Influencing Healing
Following are the factors that can influence healing procedure:
Patient’s health and Habits
Patient’s general health and habits has great influence on the healing procedure. Different factors such as medical conditions, medication and immune system can impact on body to heal properly. If a patient is having well managed health condition it will show smooth healing process. If a patient is with poor health condition, it will lead to slow healing procedure. Healthy habits leads to healthy life and poor habits lead to poor health.
Smoking and Alcohol consumption
Smoking and Alcohol consumption can lead to poor healing process. Nicotine and other restrict blood flow and hinders delivery of oxygen to the tissues. This slow blood supply and hindered supply of oxygen to the tissues will lead to slow healing procedure. Patients who are addicted to the smoking are advised to quit smoking for some time or reduced smoking during time of healing to at least to maximize the chance of successful implant healing and Integration.
Hygienic routine
Hygienic measures is one of the main factor that influence the process of healing. It is very important to make good dental routine for quick healing and long term implant success. It is very important to take care of your dental implants and patient should follow dental instructions in each and every case. Balanced oral care is very necessary for tissue health and optimal healing of Implant site.
Dentist must actively address these factors, that influence healing and empower patient to follow instructions and take active part in successful healing process.