What to Expect In Your First 24 Hours With Dental Implants

Posted on: 6 January 2022

Thanks to modern dentistry, losing a tooth doesn't have to affect your smile forever. There are many replacement options out there, and one of the most popular is dental implants. As a long-term solution, they can help you restore your smile and make chewing your food easier. If you're set to have dental implant treatment, it may help to learn more about what to expect in your first 24 hours.

Some Pain and Discomfort

Implant treatment is technically a minor form of surgery. As such, your body will move through the wound-healing process afterwards. This means you're likely to experience some pain. In most cases, the pain following implant insertion is easy to manage. Follow your dentist's advice regarding over-the-counter medications. If you're finding your recovery particularly painful, you may want to ask your dentist for a stronger prescription-only medication.

A Little Bleeding

A little bleeding is also normal following implant surgery, particularly around the site of the surgical wound. One of the easiest ways to address bleeding is biting down on a small amount of gauze and keeping it there for 30 minutes. Usually, the pressure from the gauze is enough to make the bleeding stop. Some dentists may also recommend biting on a moist teabag for 30 minutes, as the tannic acid in tea may promote blood clotting. If your bleeding continues, ask your dentist for advice.

Soft Foods Only

Eating soft foods will be necessary for the first 24 hours and may need to continue for a few days. Additionally, you should avoid anything that's too acidic, such as citrus fruits and fizzy drinks. Eating anything that requires too much chewing may dislodge the blood clot that's essential for the initial healing phases. If you're missing the taste of the chewy foods you usually love to eat, try blending them or turning them into soups.

Anaesthetic Recovery

In a lot of cases, dental implant treatment takes place under a local anaesthetic. But if you do require a general anaesthetic, you should expect to undergo a brief period of anaesthetic recovery. This means you shouldn't drive or make any major decisions for the first 24 hours following your surgery. Ideally, you'll have someone helping to take care of you until the anaesthetic wears off. You're likely to feel a bit sleepy, so it's a good idea to rest and rebuild your energy.

Your dentist will also provide advice on what to expect in the first few days following your treatment. If you notice anything unusual, reach out to them for advice at your earliest opportunity.

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