There are many reasons why a person might need dental implants. Unlike other dental treatments, dental implants have very few side effects. The side-effects that there are, are usually very easy to manage. There are rarely complications with these procedures.
If you’re missing teeth, have loose dentures, have an infected tooth, a loose bridge, or have a cracked tooth, then you might want to consider getting a dental implant.
This article will tell you what you can expect when you’re recovering from getting dental implants so that you can decide whether you want them or not:
Financial Constraints
If you’re on a reduced income, then you might experience financial difficulty following a dental implant procedure. These procedures can be very expensive, which is why health insurance is very important. If you have health insurance, then your dental implants will be paid for by your insurer, and you won’t have to fork out a penny. A single procedure, according to the dental specialists at TheDentalImplantPlace.com, can cost upwards of $20,000. Don’t overlook the importance of health insurance, particularly if you’re prone to health problems. Health insurance will stop you from having to worry about funding healthcare.
Discomfort
Naturally, you’ll experience some discomfort after dental implant surgery. Some dentists perform dental implant procedures over the course of several sessions. If your dentist spaces out your surgeries, then you could experience prolonged discomfort. Once your procedure is complete, you will still probably experience some degree of discomfort, though it’s usually very manageable and can be treated at home with painkillers, which your dentist can prescribe. It is important to contact your dentist and ask for their advice if it becomes very hard to manage. Unmanageable pain and discomfort could be indicative of botched surgery or an allergic reaction.
Minor Bleeding
You should also expect to experience very minor bleeding. This is to be expected with any type of surgery. Your dentist will tell you all about this before the surgery begins. If you do experience any heavy bleeding following your surgery, then you need to rush to an ER or back to your dentist’s office. Heavy bleeding, like prolonged discomfort, could be indicative of botched surgery or an allergic reaction. Minor bleeding should subside within one to two days of your surgery being completed. If it continues for longer, ask your dentist for their advice.
Facial Swelling
Facial swelling is to be expected with any dental procedure. The swelling that you experience should not last any longer than a few days, and it should be manageable at home with painkillers and ice packs. Extreme swelling can indicate an allergic reaction, however. If you experience any extreme swelling, then you should attend an ER immediately. Usually, though, swelling is just part of the healing process. It will subside with time. If it becomes very painful, then again, contact your dentist and ask them for their advice. You might want to take some time off of work until your swelling has subsided.
Length of Pain
You might also be wondering how long you will be in pain after you have dental surgery. Well, that depends. Simple procedures (a single tooth) are usually completely painless. More complicated procedures that involve multiple teeth being removed can be quite painful. The length of time that it takes for the pain to subside depends entirely on the type of procedure that you have undergone. Most dentists agree that pain and discomfort should subside within a week, though for very complicated procedures, it could be as long as a month.
Sensitivity to Food and Drink
After any dental surgery, sensitivity to food and drink is expected. Your dentist will probably tell you to avoid food and drink for at least a day after your surgery. You will be able to drink water, however. You will also be unable to smoke. Smoking after dental implant surgery could cause infection and could increase your recovery time. You should speak to your doctor to ask them for their advice regarding your recovery time, and what you can do and can’t do. Err on the side of caution after your surgery. Try to avoid doing anything that your dentist wouldn’t recommend.
Inability to Talk
Some people find that they are unable to talk after having dental implant surgery. This is because their mouths are usually very swollen. If your mouth is swollen, then you too might find it difficult to talk. Don’t worry though, this will subside very shortly after your surgery.
Dental implant surgery can be very scary, particularly if you have never had any type of surgery before. As we mentioned in our introduction, this surgery has very few complications associated with it. In fact, it has a 98% success rate.
