Dental implantation is a life-changing procedure for those who have lost their teeth, and it can make a serious difference for people who have fallen victim to tooth loss. When diving into the process, the invasiveness of the surgery can be very daunting, and often, patients are worried about what the recovery time will be like. If this is something you can relate to, then fear not. Here’s all you will need to know about the recovery process after having dental implants Hertfordshire. 

Post-surgery

Every case will differ from person to person; therefore, it’s super important that you manage your expectations of exactly what your journey will be. The support you need post-op will vary greatly, depending on your circumstance. Contributing factors include the number of teeth affected, your DNA and your management of the recovery process. It’s best to open the conversation about your worries about recovery early with your dentist; they will be able to guide you better as they know your circumstances.

Simple cases

If the patient is going through a simple implantation process with little to no bone grafting needed, then there should be very little post-op discomfort or inflammation. And as such, most people will be able to continue with their lives with very little disruption. 

However, in the vast majority of post-surgery cases, there will be some minor swelling and low levels of pain and discomfort; in some cases, there may even be bruises around the face. These symptoms should disappear within a week or so. Your dentist should, for the most part, be able to advise you on what medication you should be taking to help ease the discomfort. 

It’s highly likely that for the first week or so, patients will want to keep to a relatively easy-to-eat diet, with soft foods being preferred as they heal. Usually, within 7 to 10 days, the pain can ease and those affected will be able to return to their normal diets. 

Bone grafting

If there is a need to perform a bone graft, then there are likely to be more symptoms of pain and swelling after the surgery, but as long as this is accounted for and discussed with the practitioner beforehand, you will be able to put the appropriate support in place for post-op care. 

Delayed healing

Like with any form of surgery, if patients themselves do not put forward their best recovery practices, it will likely delay them from returning to their normal lifestyles. Things that delay recovery include smoking, drinking alcohol, poor diet, excessive exercise, stress, poor dental care and touching the area affected. When you visit your dentist for your surgery, they should talk you through the final details of your aftercare, how best to serve yourself in your recovery and what support to ask from them and those around you. Like with all things, rest and recuperation will serve you best, so taking a few days off for yourself without work and house chores will greatly benefit your long-term healing.