Placement of Dental Implants — Do I Need to See a Dentist After My Procedure?

Many people who are missing one or more of their teeth have opted to get dental implants as a replacement solution. Dental implants are a good option for failing teeth, as well as missing teeth. The failing teeth could be removed, and then the artificial tooth roots can be added and anchored to the jaw. Those who are considering this type of procedure should always choose to work with a quality dental implant center, such as EON CLINICS.

Why Choose Dental Implants?

Why are so many patients choosing to undergo these procedures for single implants or “all-on-4” dental implants? For starters, many people worry about not having all of their natural teeth. It affects the way they look and how they feel about themselves. Having implants can help them feel better about themselves.

Of course, there are plenty of other benefits to using dental implants, too. They help to prevent bone loss and they will help to restore bite force. Having implants will prevent changes from occurring in the patient’s face, and it will enable natural speech. Some of the other tooth replacement options, such as dentures, can affect a person’s ability to pronounce certain words correctly.

Dental implants are easy to care for, and they will not get cavities. However, before choosing implants, it’s important to know more about what the procedure entails, and what the recovery time will be like. Many people want to know if the implants are “one and done” or if they require multiple visits.

What Is the Dental Implant Procedure Like?

Most of the time, when going to a good dental implant center, it’s possible to have a single tooth implant placed in about half an hour and up to an hour for multiple tooth implants. All-on-4 dental implants could take several hours, as it creates a full jaw of teeth. This is just for the start of the full procedure though.

It’s important to realize that the overall timeline and the procedures will differ for various types of implants. This naturally means the recovery time will be different, and the number of times patients need to see the dentist will differ, as well.

Single and multiples will take multiple visits for the procedure to be completed. Most of the time, it is going to take around six months. The majority of the time is waiting for the implants to fuse to the jaw. If bone grafting or extractions are needed, it will add up to another six months to the procedure.

For all-on-4 dental implants, the entire process takes about eight months. Again, most of this time will be dedicated to getting the implants to fuse to the jaw bone. Patients will wear temporary teeth during this time. The healing procedure will vary from patient to patient.

While many patients worry about the pain involved with the procedure, it tends to be minimal. Most patients will only have a small amount of pain, but tolerance does vary from one patient to the next. Pain medication can be provided if needed.

What Happens After the Procedure?

One of the common questions that people have is what happens after the procedure and how often they will need to go back to the dental implant center. Before the procedure, the dentists at EON CLINICS will let you know more about what you can expect after each part of the procedure, and how often you will need to return to the clinic to see a dentist.

The recovery period will vary by patient and with different types of surgery. The jawbone healing will usually take between four and six months for most patients. The soft tissues of the mouth will typically heal faster. It generally happens over the course of three to four months. Dentists will want to check in with patients during the recovery process. They will check the process of the healing and can talk with the patients about any potential issues.

Swelling and bruising tend to be apparent for about one to two weeks after the initial procedure where the posts are added. When it comes to getting back to a normal schedule, most patients will want to have several days of rest. Some may be able to get back on their normal routine much faster.

Visiting the Doctor

After getting the procedure started at the dental implant center, patients will have to go back to the center and visit their dentist for checkups, to see how the fusing process is going, etc. If patients have any issues once they have started the procedure, they should get in touch with the medical professionals as soon as possible.

The dental implant center will set patients up with an appointment plan detailing when they need to return to the clinic for checkups. This will vary by patient and procedure. It is important that patients adhere to the dentist’s guidelines and recommendations when it comes to the healing process. Failure to do so could result in problems with the implants, which could make them take longer to heal.

Diet After Implants

Whether getting single or multiple implants, or the all-on-4 dental implants, it is important to follow basic post-op diet instructions. In the first 24 to 48 hours after the procedure, patients should only consume cool liquids. After that point, patients can eat warm food and liquids, but nothing hot for at least two weeks. Patients will be letting their jaw heal over the course of the next six months and will have a temporary bridge. During those six months, they should be sure to eat relatively soft foods until they get their permanent teeth.

Contact the Dentist If There is Trouble

After undergoing the procedure, patients should feel free to contact the EON CLINICS with any questions or concerns they might have. Get in touch with the dental implant center for any potential issues that might arise. It’s better to be safe rather than sorry.