Recovery

Beverly Hills and Los Angeles, CA

Implant surgery requires time to heal. Your recovery period will depend on the type of implant surgery you undergo, the number of implants you receive and your oral health prior to the procedure.

Recuperation periods also vary from one patient to another. If you have serious oral health problems, your recovery period will inevitably take longer.

Following surgery, most people experience mild soreness, swelling or bleeding that can be treated with over the counter medicines. You will generally be able to return to work a day or two after this surgery.

Surgery Two

Your bone and tissue must heal around your implant before the prosthetic phase of your treatment can occur. In between the first and second surgery, there is a recovery period of about three to six months while the implants settle into your bone. The growth of the bones around the titanium posts may cause soreness in your mouth for the first several weeks. Again, this discomfort can be controlled with over the counter medicines.

Good Oral Hygiene

It is imperative that you practice good oral hygiene during your recovery period. Poor care can lead to chronic swelling in your gum tissue. This can ultimately lead to implant failure. You should schedule check-up visits in order to ensure your mouth is healing properly.

A positive attitude going into the surgery, realistic expectation and sufficient foods and fluids following your procedure will help speed along your recovery.

Complications from Surgery

All surgeries carry the risk of complications. Risks associated with implant surgery include:

• Excessive bleeding
• Infection
• Injury to your nerves
• Damage to your sinuses
• Injury to your nasal cavity

If your implant replaces your lower teeth, there is a nerve that could be struck during the drilling process. The result is pain and/or numbness in the lower lip, chin and possibly tongue. This condition can last for a few months until your nerve heals, or it can last a lifetime.

There is also a possibility of drilling through your upper jawbone, this time into your sinus or sinuses or nasal cavity, which could lead to an infection. X-rays will be taken prior to surgery to help determine exactly where your nerves, sinuses and nasal cavity are. 

Implant Failure

More than 90 percent of the time, implant surgery is successful. But sometimes, a dental implant will fail to bond with the surrounding tissue and bone. This condition is often discovered at the second stage of surgery, where the implant becomes loose. If this happens, your implant must be removed and another one can be replaced at a later date.

Some reasons for implant failure include:

• Infection around the implant
• Surgical trauma
• Smoking, which decreases the blood flow to your gums and bones, thereby interfering with the bonding process
• Insufficient healthy bone
• Titanium allergies 

If you are considering dental implants and you live in the Beverly Hills or Los Angeles area, please contact our office today to schedule your free initial consultation. Our team of experts can answer your questions and help you take the first steps to achieve the smile you have always wanted. Please call today.