When you go through new experiences, it’s nice to have someone guide you. Until you face an unfamiliar treatment, you may not realize what questions you’ll have. However, in some situations, you need to try to gather as much information as possible before you’re going through the experience to make sure you avoid uncomfortable or even painful outcomes. For instance, if you have dental implant placement, you would be wise to ask questions about the aftermath and common questions patients tend to have. For some insight, keep reading!
How Much Time Should I Take Off Work to Recover from Implant Placement?
Whether you consider yourself a tough person or you don’t think you can afford to take days off work, you’ll need to rest after minor surgery. Your time-off schedule will depend on the activity level of your job.
For those with desk or low-activity jobs, you may be fine returning to work two days after the procedure. For others who have more physically taxing work, three or four days may be necessary to give your body additional time to heal properly. Don’t force going back to work sooner than this timeframe. If you push yourself physically, you could dislodge the blood clot and create complications.
Will I Hurt After the Anesthetic Wears Off?
When the local anesthetic fades, your mouth might feel sore, and some mild pain may set in. If this is the case for you, you may take over-the-counter pain reliever, place a cold compress over your face, and get lots of rest in the first few days. Also, elevate your head above your heart to make blood doesn’t rush or gather in this area.
What Foods Am I Allowed to Eat Following Dental Implant Placement?
You may find your mouth feeling sore and sensitive after the posts are surgically placed. Plus, this period is critical to allow the blood clot to form over the site and help recovery. As a result, you should have a soft food diet for at least two or three days to not disturb this protective clot. You should also avoid hard or crunchy foods for the same reason. Examples of appropriate soft food include cottage cheese, eggs, yogurt, applesauce, mashed potatoes, canned vegetables, and the like. After that, you can start to build back up to a normal diet by the end of the week.
Can I Smoke After Dental Implant Placement?
While quitting tobacco, smoking, and vaping is highly recommended to increase your chances of success with your dental implants, it is possible to continue smoking after the posts have been inserted. However, you will need to wait at least 48 hours after the surgery. Otherwise, you could remove the blood clot prematurely and cause dry socket, which is painful, or you could increase the risk of gum disease, which prevents the implant from integrating properly.
Although you likely haven’t gone through dental implant placement before, getting answers to these common questions can help you know what to do to ensure smooth recovery and successful tooth replacements. If you have additional post-op questions, reach out to your implant dentist!
About the Author
Dr. Jake Weissich is proud to provide complete dental implant treatment in his Fresno office. Patients do not need to visit a specialist for the placement procedure and always know they can turn to Dr. Jake for advice and guidance at any stage of the process. He is currently working on earning Fellowship with the Academy of General Dentistry, which is a high honor for the field. His pleasant demeanor also makes asking questions easy and comfortable. Do you have other questions about recovering from implant placement. Don’t hesitate to reach out to Dr. Jake online here or call the office at 559-431-9104.