How Long Do Dental Implants Take to Heal

Missing a tooth can be embarrassing and make it difficult to eat or speak properly.

Dental implants are a great way to replace a tooth root and missing teeth, but many people are afraid of the recovery process or are unsure of how long the healing process will take.

In this blog post, we will discuss the different factors that contribute to the healing time after getting dental implants. We will also provide an average time of how long it takes a person to heal after getting dental implants.

How Long Does it Take for Dental Implants to Heal?

Multiple phases are usually involved in this type of restorative dentistry treatment. It requires more than one healing stage; therefore, the time it takes to heal will be determined by the number of teeth to be replaced, the patient’s health, and a variety of other criteria.

The average healing process following the dental implants procedure is six to eight months. However, your implant recovery time may be longer depending on the primary issue that caused the need for implants and any additional procedures to your surgery, such as bone graft.

The placement includes several procedures and healing time in between, making the entire treatment longer. Osseo-integration is the process by which dental implants become stronger and more durable than other treatment approaches. When an implant is placed into the bone, the bone cells grow into it, a process known as osseointegration. As the implant is bonded and becomes a part of the bone, this will result in a naturally strong bond. This will not be a quick process. The osseointegration process will take two to six months to complete.

Hence, the dentist will advise you to have frequent visits for the first few months or initial year after your dental implant surgery. This is to monitor the implant, the condition of your gums, and if necessary, make any adjustments.

What to Expect After a Dental Implant Procedure?

You may experience some of the common discomforts associated with any kind of dental surgery, whether you have dental implant surgery in one stage or multiple phases, including these:

• Swelling of your gums and face.
• Mild bruising of your gums
• Pain, particularly at the implant site
• Minor bleeding

Your dentist will offer you information on how to care for your dental implants and your mouth immediately following surgery. Pain medication may be necessary to help you manage some discomfort. We will also give you information on what to expect after implant surgery and how to keep your dental implants and mouth healthy.

In the long run, it is important to practice good oral hygiene habits. This aids in maintaining your implants in good condition and improves your oral health.

Factors that Can Affect the Healing Time of Dental Implants

According to a recent study, the age, size of the implants, bone quality, and the area where the implant is placed can be factored in the success of the treatment and may affect the healing time.

Age

Several studies have shown that the healing process for the elderly population may take longer than for other populations.

Size of the implant

According to the study, smaller or wider diameter implants have a higher failure rate, but longer implants have a higher success rate.

Oral hygiene habits

Proper oral hygiene is essential while having dental implants placed. Although dental implants are artificial teeth, they still require maintenance. In truth, dental implant oral hygiene is similar to natural teeth oral hygiene. This involves brushing twice a day, flossing once a day, and using mouthwash on a daily basis. These practices reduce the quantity of plaque and germs in your mouth, which helps to avoid infection and improve the chances of implant success. In contrast, failing to practice good oral hygiene might lead to your implant being infected and failing.

Lifestyle choice

Smoking or using tobacco products has an increased risk of compromising the success of dental implants, and there is a greater risk of infection. You may have excessive bleeding as a result of this during and after your surgery. This is something you should talk about with your dentist before the implant operation.

Bone mass

It is necessary to have sufficient bone density prior to the implant surgical procedure since the implant posts need support from the bone. If you have a weak jaw bone, you may require a bone graft, which takes a few weeks to heal.

And because osseointegration also requires a certain amount of bone, the amount of bone mass in your jaw also plays a role in the success of dental implants.

Your post-implant diet

What you eat after dental implant surgery also matters. Follow a soft food diet after the surgical procedure. Chewing on the implant side of your mouth should be avoided. Ingesting soft foods helps to avoid damaging your implant before it has healed. A recovering implant might be damaged by chewy, crunchy, or hard foods.

Are Dental Implants Safe?

In Australia, a variety of factors contribute to the safety of dental implants. Dental implants are placed by dentists who have been adequately trained and understand how to perform them safely in a sterile environment.

With the development of modern technology, almost all patients can now benefit from dental implants. It may be necessary in some cases to complete an additional treatment to enhance the jawbone, which also ensures the effectiveness of the treatment.

How to Take Care of Dental Implants?

To ensure that your implant results last as long as possible, you must keep your mouth and surrounding teeth as clean as possible. Brushing your teeth twice daily with a soft-bristle brush is advised. For a few days after treatment, avoid the implanted site. For the first week, eat soft meals and avoid eating on the implant side.

• When brushing your teeth, use low-abrasive toothpaste.
• Make a habit of flossing your teeth daily.
• Rinse with an antibacterial mouthwash.
• You can ask the dentist for a recommended oral irrigator that you can use at home, which is a a dental device
• that can remove plaque and food debris through the use of high pressure water.
• Regular dental checkups are necessary for professional cleanings, to detect any dental problems, and so your dentist can monitor the status of your implants.

These are the steps you should take to care for your dental implants. However, keep in mind that there are specific actions you must take immediately after surgery to care for your implants.

Can Dental Implants Fail?

Implant process has a higher success rate, ranging between 90% and 95%. However, implant failure may occur in rare cases.

A dental implant might fail for a number of reasons, including the patient’s overall health, the standard of post-procedure care, and the experience of the dental professional.

Ashburton Dental Centre has been providing dental implants over the years, and hence our dentists have experience in handling patients undergoing implant surgery. We can perform an assessment to determine a suitable treatment plan for you.

Signs that Your Dental Implants are Failing

• Painful chewing. Your implant is supposed to help to restore your natural bite force, but if you start to feel pain when chewing, it may be a sign of unsuccessful implant treatment.
• Swelling in the implant site or gum inflammation.
• Gum recession
• Loosening of an implant or the crown.
• Severe pain or discomfort. While some degree of pain is normal to experience throughout your healing process, persistent discomfort may indicate failure and infection.

What to Do If You Suspect Your Dental Implant is Failing?

You will have a follow-up appointment a few days following your dental implant surgery to check that you are healing appropriately. An x-ray can also be used to help clinically determine the success of an implant.

You should contact your dentist as soon as possible if you are experiencing severe pain, bleeding, swelling, implant mobility, or fever. Delaying treatment may lead to more serious complications.

Final Thoughts

The dental implant procedure has an average recovery time of six to eight months or less if you have a single implant without undergoing additional surgery such as bone grafting.

There are different reasons that can affect the healing process, such as the health of your gums, jawbone, lifestyle choice, and whether you have other procedures that make you a suitable candidate for implant surgery.

Dental implant placement entails different stages, which require healing time in between.

A few weeks or months for osseointegration allows for bone growth and the implant to fuse with it, making it a solid foundation for the dental crown.

If you’re looking into getting dental implants soon but have concerns about what this procedure entails, contact our team at (08) 9516-1003 today! We’ll provide more information on all the stages of healing and help you have a perfect smile!

Disclaimer – Use At Your Own Risk :- The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as advice for any individual case or situation. Any action you take upon the information on these blogs are strictly at your own risk. We will not be liable for any losses or damages in connection with the use of the information from these blogs.

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