How many days does swelling last after a dental implant?

Dental implants are small titanium posts inserted into the patient’s jawbone to replace teeth. Implants mimic the function of tooth roots while maintaining the strength of the lower jaw. Dental crowns placed on top of the implant are replacement teeth that look like your natural teeth. But the question usually arises: how long does the swelling last after the dental implant?

Dental implants are the best technology to date for replacing missing teeth, however, it is important to remember how the procedure itself is performed. In an ideal surgery, the root of the existing tooth is removed and a metal post is implanted in its place. Depending on the condition of your mouth and teeth, you may need more than one implant and/or bone grafting if there is not enough bone to successfully hold the implant.

While dental implant surgery is very effective and safe, it is a process that requires time and patience to heal the gum and jaw tissue. During the healing process, you will usually experience minimal swelling, bruising, and some discomfort.

Swelling can last between 5 and 7 days and bruising can last up to 14 days, and pain or tenderness can last about a week, although 90% of cases have very little swelling, bruising, or discomfort. In this article, we’ll talk about what to expect after implant placement, how to reduce swelling, and what you can do to help it heal faster.

How much swelling and bruising is normal after a dental implant?

Swelling is the body’s natural response to injuries and surgeries. The amount of swelling after implant placement varies from one patient to another. For example, a person receiving an implant should experience less swelling than a person receiving a full mouth implant or bone graft.

In any case, you can expect moderate inflammation of the jaw and gums in the surgical area, as well as mild inflammation of the cheeks and facial muscles.

Note that swelling peaks between the first and third postoperative day and gradually decreases over the week until it subsides completely. Continue reading this article for practical tips on how to minimize bloating naturally.

Bruising and discoloration of the skin on the sides of the face may also occur, however, most cases show little or no bruising.

How long does the pain last after implant placement?

Depending on the extent of the procedure, your dentist may use local anesthetic or sedation. When the numbness from the local anesthetic wears off, pain may occur.

While this pain is temporary, it may last 1 to 5 days and is at its worst between the first and third postoperative days.

Over-the-counter medications may relieve mild pain and sensitivity, but prescription medications may be necessary for those experiencing higher levels of discomfort. Be sure to take them only as directed and call your dentist in Kingston if you don’t feel relief.

Be gentle during the first week of recovery to prevent the stitches from opening in the mouth if the gums are stitched. Most implantation methods do not require stitches.

How long does it take for the gums to heal after dental implants?

Your recovery time will largely depend on the treatment you received, as well as how long it takes your body to heal.

You should see major improvements within the first week after surgery. At that point, you should be able to resume your normal activities without problems. If bone loss requires a bone graft, your recovery time may be slightly longer.

Tips to reduce swelling after dental implant surgery

The following are practical things you can do at home to reduce the level of inflammation experienced after receiving a dental implant.

Place ice packs on the implant area:

Use ice or an ice pack or compress and place it on your cheek closest to the implant site. A frozen zip-top bag can also work. Keep this position for 10 to 20 minutes in a row on the outer part of the face and then rest for 20 minutes.

Applying ice packs immediately is the best way to help fight initial swelling. After the first 72 hours, you can switch from the cold compress to the moist heat compress using the same alternating method (20 minutes on/20 minutes off).

Elevate your head with a pillow:

Your body heals faster when it is relaxed. Do the first two days of recovery by raising your head while sleeping.

Avoid talking too much:

In the first 24 hours, stay as calm and quiet as possible and avoid excessive talking.

Do not touch the suture site:

Do not brush your teeth or rinse your mouth on the same day as the implant treatment.

Observe oral hygiene:

After the first day, brush your teeth gently around the wound with a soft toothbrush.

Stay hydrated:

Drink plenty of water, but do so without a straw. The sucking motion created when drinking from a straw may dislodge a blood clot in your mouth and delay your recovery. Drink only cold or lukewarm water, at least at first. Hot liquids can burn and irritate the wound.

Eat a soft diet containing nutritious foods:

Your stitches will need time to heal, so it may be a good idea to start with a liquid diet and gradually transition to softer foods. Avoid heavy chewing for 10 to 14 days or until your mouth is no longer sensitive.

Limit salt intake and eat cold or lukewarm things. Hot, crispy, hard, and spicy foods should not be consumed. Ideal soft foods include smoothies, protein shakes, all-natural juices, applesauce, yogurt, mashed potatoes, eggs, steamed vegetables, warm broth-based soups, etc. Once your implants have healed, you can return to your normal diet.

Washing with warm salt water:

Do a mouthwash after every meal for 7 to 10 days. Salt is a natural antibacterial that helps prevent the wound from becoming infected.

Take prescribed pain medications as directed:

Do not take the medication on an empty stomach, unless otherwise indicated, as it may cause side effects such as nausea and vomiting.

Increase your vitamin intake:

Taking a multivitamin and vitamin D before surgery is helpful for faster recovery.

Rest:

Reduce physical activity and vigorous exercise during recovery.

Do not smoke or drink alcohol:

Smoking can cause excessive bleeding, delay healing, and contribute to infection. Drinking alcohol can cause dehydration and should be avoided especially when taking painkillers.

Follow your dentist’s instructions:

Your oral surgeon will provide you with a treatment plan and schedule follow-up appointments to ensure that your new implants are healing properly.

How do I know if my dental implant is infected?

While the vast majority of patients do not experience any problems after receiving an implant, we recommend that you keep track of your healing progress to avoid ignoring signs of infection.

Be sure to note the initial level of discomfort and any changes. It’s normal for inflammation to be at its worst on days two and three but should start to subside around day five or seven.

Call your dentist immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• There is prolonged inflammation that lasts more than the first seven days of recovery.
• The swelling worsened a week after treatment.
• You experience severe pain, especially at the surgical site.
• You get a fever.