Healing After Dental Implants: What to Expect 

Dental implants have a few major advantages over other restorative treatments: 

• They provide a secure fit, making it possible to eat, speak, and bite just like you would with a natural tooth. 
• They stimulate the jaw and prevent bone loss and facial sagging. 
• They are easy to take care of and can last a lifetime. 

That said, the dental implant process is lengthy and it can take up to six months or even more until you can flaunt your new smile. 

This information right here is very confusing to a lot of our patients. Will the entire healing process last six months? 

Yes and no. 

Here's what we mean by that. 

Healing After the First Stage of Getting Dental Implants 

The first stage, also known as phase one, refers to the surgical insertion of the implant into the jawbone. 

During the implant surgery, the dentist will open your bone and place a small titanium post inside. 

Here's what to expect after this surgery: 

• The First Hours: Your mouth will still be numb for a couple of hours from the local anesthetics used to minimize your discomfort. Avoid eating anything during this period so that you don't accidentally bite your tongue or the inside of your cheeks.
• ‍The First Day: After the effects of the anesthesia wear off, you will start to feel some pain. You may even notice small traces of blood in your saliva. These are normal side effects, so have some ibuprofen and ice packs prepared to alleviate your discomfort. Stick to soft foods for the next few days.
• ‍The First Three Days: You're still experiencing some pain and tenderness, but your symptoms should get better with every passing hour. If the pain is getting worse instead of better, call a dentist near you immediately.
• ‍The First Week to Ten Days: The implant surgery site should have healed by now. Go to your check-up and if the dentist allows it, you can slowly go back to your regular diet. 

Healing During The Second Stage 

Although the implant surgery site only needs about one week to ten days to heal, there's more happening under the gum tissue. 

The metal post now starts to integrate with the bone and gum tissue around it and become part of your body. This is a slow process and most people need about six months to get a sturdy foundation that will hold the rest of the implant. 

Want to Learn More About Implant Dentistry? 

If you have missing teeth and are interested in implants, the first thing you need to do is schedule an appointment with Woburn Dental Associates and find out if you can actually get one. As you may know, not everyone is a suitable candidate for dental implants. 

Contact us online or call us at (781) 933-0422 to book your appointment.