If you’re interested in dental implants in San Francisco, you may be wondering what you can expect during the recovery process. Will you experience pain? How much is normal, and when should you consider following up with your dentist? In this blog, the team at Golden Gate Dental will help you understand what you should expect after your dental implant surgery.
Pain Is Normal After Your Dental Implant Is Placed, And Usually Peaks Within 24-72 Hours
You likely won’t feel much pain or discomfort immediately after your dental implant is placed, due to numbing and sedation. But a few hours after your appointment, you will begin to feel some pain and discomfort. This is normal for a surgical procedure like the placement of a dental implant.
If Dr. Sosis has given you a prescription for pain medication, fill it and take it as directed. If not, you can take over-the-counter medicine like ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and naproxen. Applying ice to the cheek near the affected area at 10-minute intervals can also help with pain. You can expect your pain to peak within 24-72 hours of your treatment.
Make sure you follow the recovery instructions provided to you by Dr. Sosis to ensure that your mouth heals properly, and to minimize your risk of complications like peri implantitis (implant infection).
Your Pain And Discomfort Will Become Less Severe Within 3-7 Days
After about 3 days, your pain and discomfort should begin to fade. You may still notice bruising, swelling, and inflammation in the area, but these should also become less severe over time.
After a week or so, your mouth will feel much less tender. You should be able to brush the area without much discomfort, and there should be no bleeding, and much less swelling and bruising.
It Usually Takes Up To 2 Weeks To Completely Recover From Implant Placement
After 1-2 weeks, your implant will be completely healed. It may still feel slightly tender under pressure, but you should not have any noticeable bleeding or pain. The area could still be slightly bruised or swollen, however.
If you are experiencing a lot of pain and discomfort after 1-2 weeks post-surgery, this is not normal. You should contact your dentist to follow up with them, and understand the cause of the issue.
Among other complications, it is possible that your implant was placed improperly, that the area has become infected, or that the implant has failed to take hold due to a metal allergy. It’s important to get help for these issues right away, so that you can save your implant and protect your oral health.
Interested In Dental Implants In Golden Gate Park Or San Francisco? Contact Us Now!
At Golden Gate Dental, Dr. Inessa Sosis specializes in implant dentistry in San Francisco. If you’re missing one or more teeth and would like to restore your smile, we’re here to help. Contact us now at (415) 367-3444 to learn more about your treatment options, and to see if you’re a good candidate for dental implants in San Francisco.