When you’re missing your natural teeth, dental implants provide a solution that is truly second-to-none. In order to receive them, you’ll need to undergo a minor oral surgery which can take some time to heal from. The amount of time you’ll need to set aside following dental implant surgery will vary based on a few different factors. That includes how many implants you placed, your day-to-day habits, and more.
More Complex Treatments Require More Healing
It’s probably not surprising to hear, but the more implants you intend to have placed, the more time you’ll need to ensure you’ve fully healed before returning to work. Even if you feel physically fine after surgery, your body needs time to adjust to the titanium posts placed inside of your jaw.
For example, a single implant post will likely need only a few days to a week to heal completely. Even then, you may only need to take one to two days off work to rest and avoid strenuous activities. Having several implants placed to hold a denture will generally require a few more days on average.
The Nature of Your Job Has an Impact
If you currently work a desk job or similar occupation where you sit for a majority of the time, you may be able to return to work sooner. You’ll still need to keep to a soft diet to protect your tooth replacement, but working shouldn’t be much of an issue if your job doesn’t require strenuous labor.
On the other hand, those with jobs that require a lot of physical activity will definitely need to schedule more time off to heal. Furthermore, you should avoid any strenuous exercise until the dentist has had a chance to evaluate your jaw and confirm everything is healing as planned.
Your Existing Health and At-Home Habits Matter
While it’s possible for people with chronic health conditions to receive dental implants, the healing process will take more time if you have a compromised immune system, history of substance abuse, or hormonal imbalance. Patients with these conditions will want to set aside more time for healing.
Additionally, you’ll want to keep the following tips in mind:
- Get plenty of rest and stay hydrated
- Keep your head elevated while sleeping to ensure effective blood flow
- Avoid tobacco products at all costs
- Do not consume any foods that are hard, spicy, sweet, or acidic to prevent irritating the treatment site
- Do not use straws or spit with force
The closer you follow your aftercare instructions, the more effectively your body should be able to heal. Of course, the best way to get an accurate estimate on your recovery timeline is to speak with the dentist providing your dental implant.
About the Author
Dr. Arrechea has over 20 years of experience practicing dentistry and loves seeing her patients smile and feel confident in their oral health. She’s proud to offer removable full and partial dentures as well as relining services to help her patients get the most out of their replacement teeth. To learn whether your dentures need to be adjusted, visit Daily Smiles Dental Dallas’ website or call 214-624-6221 today to schedule an examination.