What to Expect After Tooth Implant Surgery

Female dentist explaining tooth x-rays to a unrecognizable patient.

Whether your tooth implant surgery is scheduled in the next few days or you have already had a few steps of tooth implant surgery done, you want to know what you can expect after your tooth implant surgery.

Tooth implant surgery is performed to replace your missing natural teeth with artificial teeth that look, function, and feel like your natural teeth.

Let’s talk about the dental implant surgery procedure, what you can expect after it, and where you can go in Eugene, OR, for the best tooth implant surgery.

Tooth Implant Surgery Procedure

Typically, a tooth implant surgery is performed in your doctor’s office. The surgery has many stages, and there is a gap in the healing purpose between the stages.

The following are the stages involved in a tooth implant surgery procedure:

  • Damaged Tooth Removal – This is the first step of the surgery in which your damaged tooth (if that hasn’t fallen already) is removed.
  • Jawbone Preparation – This involves preparing your jawbone for dental implant placement. If your jawbone is too soft or is not thick enough, bone grafting is done. The bone graft can be natural or synthetic and is used to create a solid base for the implant.
  • Placing the Dental Implant – To place the implant, your gum is cut open, and the bone is exposed. Then your surgeon drills a hole into the bone where the dental implant post needs to be placed. The post is implanted deep into the bone, where it will serve as the tooth root. After this step, you will still have a missing tooth gap.
  • Waiting for Bone Growth – The process of osteointegration begins once the implant post is placed in your jawbone. During the process, the jawbone grows and is united with the post of the implant. The osteointegration process takes several months.
  • Placing the Abutment – Next, additional surgery is done to place the abutment (the piece to which the tooth-like crown will be attached). The abutment is attached to the metal post of the implant by reopening the gums. The gums are then allowed to heal for about two weeks.
  • Artificial Tooth Placement – Your impressions are taken to make a crown (artificial teeth). The crown can be removable or fixed.

What Happens After the Dental Implant Procedure?

Here is what you can expect after a tooth implant surgery.

  • Immediately After Dental Implant Surgery–Following the surgery, you will feel a little “groggy” and “out of it” depending on the anesthesia used. You will also experience light bleeding, swelling, and seeping. Once anesthesia begins to wear off, you will experience discomfort, which is managed by OTC pain medications like ibuprofen and acetaminophen. You may also be prescribed some other medications like antibiotics to prevent infection at the implant site.
  • 24 Hours After Dental Implant Surgery– You will be advised to eat soft food. It’s normal to experience sensitivity to hot and cold during the first few hours, so you must avoid hot and spicy food and alcoholic or carbonated beverages.
  • A Few Days After Dental Implant Surgery –The swelling around your face and eyes stays for a few days, which will come down over time with home remedies. You may also experience discomfort due to bruising of your skin and gums, which you can soothe by rinsing your mouth with salt water and using pain medications. Over time, you will feel normal with no sensitivity, pain, or discomfort.

Tooth Implants in Eugene, OR

If you have a tooth problem and seeking comprehensive dental care, look no further than 360 Dental. Our highly skilled and experienced dentist Dr. Ari Binder provides a full range of dental services, including dental implant surgery. Dr. Binder thoroughly evaluates your teeth, gums, and jawbone and recommends the best possible treatment.

To schedule a consultation with our dental surgeon, call us today at (541) 689-164 or fill out our online appointment request form. We look forward to serving you!