Answering 3 Questions About Post-Op Dental Implant Surgery

After your dental implant surgery, you may be excited that you are a step closer to getting a reliable tooth replacement. Your dentist placed the posts into your jawbone, so they will need some time to fuse after your procedure. However, many people wonder what to expect post-op. Keep reading to learn the answers to three common questions that patients have!

Can I Drive Myself Home Afterward?

Before your dentist began, your mouth was thoroughly numbed with powerful local anesthesia. You may have undergone a sedation option to help ensure you stay comfortable throughout the process. Both of these may affect your coordination or cause you to experience some temporary blurry vision, so having someone you trust drive you home is best. This will help ensure your safety and let you focus on recovering. 

Should I Expect Any Pain, Bleeding, or Swelling?

While you may not be in any pain right after the procedure, that is because the anesthesia is still in effect. It takes a couple of hours to go away, during which you may feel some discomfort when this happens. You can take any prescribed or over-the-counter medication to give you some relief.

Additionally, you should expect to have some bleeding afterward. This may occur for up to 48 to 72 hours post-surgery. To help manage it, gently bite on clean gauze and avoid spitting or rinsing, as they can cause the area to bleed more.

Any swelling you experience in your face may last for several days. You may notice it increase for three to four days after surgery, but it should lessen within a week. Applying an ice pack to your face for 30-minute intervals in the first 24 hours can help minimize it.

What Can I Eat After Dental Implant Surgery?

As you are recovering from surgery, it’s important to adjust your diet. You should stick to eating soft foods for the first day. This will prevent you from putting too much stress on your mouth and causing you any discomfort. Some tasty options that people love are applesauce, mashed potatoes, yogurt, and broth-based soups.

However, you want to ensure that your meals aren’t too hot, as they can cause some irritation. You might also want to remove anything that’s hard, crunchy, spicy, or chewy to reduce any strain on your dental implant.

About the Author

Dr. Saeed Rouhani earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the Baylor College of Dentistry. He has since studied and done training with dental implants to ensure he gives his patients the best care possible. With Dr. Rouhani’s experience and knowledge, he can place them in-house, letting you have the convenience of staying with a team you trust. If you have any questions or concerns about post-op dental implant surgery, feel free to contact his office by calling (972) 733-0999.