Even if you’re eager for dental implants, you may also feel nervous. After all, you likely don’t know what to expect post-surgery. This sense of the unknown can be frightening. Luckily, it’s possible to prepare for the aftercare phase of treatment. You just need to ask the right post-op questions about dental implant surgery. By doing so, you’ll receive answers that help you adjust to your new teeth. So, here are four questions to ask once you’ve gotten dental implants.
“What If I Notice Bleeding After I Leave the Office?”
Certainly, you may worry about post-surgery bleeding. That’s only natural – implant placement makes incisions and openings in your gum tissue. You might fear that these wounds won’t heal right and will instead leak blood.
Fortunately, there’s nothing to stress over: some oozing of blood post-surgery is common. In fact, you may expect this to occur up to 48-72 hours after placement. Regardless, potential bleeding is why your dentist placed gauze sponges over the surgical sites. You should simply bite down firmly on these sponges for the first hour after surgery to stop the bleeding.
“Will My Face Become Swollen?”
Given that implant surgery can be invasive, you may wonder if it’ll cause facial swelling. Having that knowledge beforehand will let you adapt accordingly.
To answer the question, yes – your face will swell following implant surgery. This reaction occurs as part of the natural healing process. It’ll likely keep up for 3-4 days before starting to subside. Still, you can minimize swelling by applying an ice pack near the surgery site.
“Why Do I Need to Take an Antibiotic?”
Perhaps your dentist already explained that you’ll take an antibiotic after surgery. Even so, you may not grasp why this medicine is needed. Maybe you think it’s a pointless addition to your recovery.
Truthfully, dental implant surgery requires antibiotic therapy. The latter prevents infection on or around the implant or bone graft. Without it, you could suffer complications that threaten your new tooth (or teeth). Should that happen, you’d need replacement material that adds to your treatment cost.
“Do I Need a Follow-Up Appointment?”
While you may want your implant to succeed, you may not know whether a follow-up visit is necessary. That lack of knowledge, in turn, may leave you afraid that you’ll do something to ruin your treatment.
Well, rest assured: you should attend a follow-up appointment. The typical dentist will want to see you three weeks after the implant surgery. That way, they can monitor your recovery and ensure you can receive the later abutment and restoration.
By asking these post-op questions about dental implant surgery, you’ll have a much better idea of what to expect. With that said, go ahead and commit them to memory!
About the Practice
Amberly Dental is based in Waverly, NE. Led by Drs. Tim Vacek and Paige Hull, our practice combines familial warmth and state-of-the-art dentistry. We thus offer high-quality preventive, cosmetic, and restorative services, all tailored to your unique smile. The team is also well-equipped for emergency dental work like tooth extractions and root canals. For more information or to book a visit, you can reach us on our website or by phone at (402)-786-2007.