Recovering from Dental Implant Surgery in Irving
Helpful Tips to Ensure a Swift & Painless Recovery
Most patients are pleasantly surprised at how fast and smooth the surgical procedure went. Dr. Mounir Iskandar takes every precaution to ensure your surgery is a complete success so that the side effects are greatly minimized.
Before surgery takes place, we will make sure you know exactly what to expect during these first few hours and days after treatment. Patient education is particularly important to us at Radiance Dentistry, and Dr. Iskandar. and our friendly dental team will ensure you know how to look after your mouth during this initial healing period.
Have questions about the dental implant surgery recovery process in Irving? Call us at (972) 866-7976.
What to Expect Immediately after Surgery
Once the anesthesia has worn off, you may experience some minor discomfort and you should take it easy for the rest of the day. This can normally be controlled with over-the-counter painkillers, or we can prescribe something to ensure you feel comfortable. If you had a single dental implant, it’s not uncommon to experience very little if any discomfort.
Common side-effects after surgery include:
- Slight pain or discomfort: This can normally be controlled with painkillers. If you just had a single dental implant, it’s not uncommon to be well enough to return to work the next day.
- Bleeding or draining: With single dental implants, there is rarely any bleeding. If you go with our XircOn 4-6 solution (all teeth replaced), during the first day or two after surgery, it’s quite normal to experience some minor oozing from the surgery site or even some light bleeding. We will provide you with some gauze packs that you can place directly on the surgical site. Apply gentle but firm pressure to the gauze until the bleeding stops. If necessary, replace the gauze every 30 minutes or so. If you are at all worried that the bleeding is excessive, or if it will not stop, please contact our dental office immediately.
- Swelling and bruising: The first day after surgery, you can use an icepack and apply it to the outside of your mouth to help minimize any swelling and bruising. Apply the ice pack for 20-minute periods, allowing 20 minutes of rest in between applications. After the first day, you can switch to using moist heat, applying it for 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off. It can take a few days for any bruising and swelling to go away.
Stick to Eating Soft Foods
Immediately after surgery, stick to eating soft foods that don’t require any chewing. Good food choices include ice cream, yogurt, mashed potatoes, pasta, and soup. As the area begins to heal, you can gradually introduce harder foods, but wait a while before you try to eat anything very crunchy or anything that has lots of seeds that could get stuck around the surgery site.
If you are having the XircOn 4-6 full mouth replacement, we offer a good rule of thumb: If you can cut it with a plastic fork, it’s good to go in your new mouth. This allows the implants to heal and infuse with the bone. Even though you leave with a new smile to test drive for 4+ months, we want you to take it easy on the chewing until you get your final XircOn Ultra or XircOn Ultimate set of teeth. Then, there is no holding back on ANY foods you enjoy!
Looking after Your Oral Health
Immediately after surgery, make sure you gently brush the rest of your teeth but avoid the surgery site. Don’t rinse or spit for the first day or so after surgery, but from the next day onwards, it can be helpful to use a warm salt water rinse to keep your mouth clean and comfortable. We may also prescribe an anti-microbial mouth rinse to help keep your mouth clean during this initial healing period.
We have developed an entire book on this and would love to share it with you. Dr. Iskandar. also offers lots of information on what to expect after implant surgery during your initial consultation. Most people will find healing quick, comfortable, and uneventful, but if you are ever worried, please contact Radiance Dentistry as our friendly dental team is here to help you.
Caring for Your Implant
Following your oral surgery, it’s not uncommon to feel groggy or tired from the effects of the anesthetic. This will wear off over the course of the day. You’ll also note discomfort or soreness, which is normal. Patients should get ample rest after the procedure, resting with their back and head propped up by pillows to avoid lying down flat.
Activities to Avoid after Oral Surgery
After oral surgery, patients are advised to avoid strenuous physical activities until they are advised otherwise by their surgeon. Smoking and the use of smokeless tobacco should be avoided until the end of the implant dentistry process as this can cause serious damage to the gum tissue and increase the risk of infection. Patients will also be asked to avoid using drinking straws for several weeks. The suction created by the drinking straw can cause the blood clot in the incision site to come loose and can also affect any sutures that are in place.
Attend All Follow-Ups with Your Dentist
During your recovery, you will have several follow-up visits with your dentist to monitor the progress of your healing. This will also help determine how much longer your recovery requires for osseointegration to be completed. Be sure to attend all of these follow-ups as they occur.
Learn more about what to expect from your surgery recovery period by calling Radiance Dentistry, Dental Implant Center at (972) 866-7976. We serve the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area.