With any medical procedure, it’s important to understand what comes after just as much as the treatment itself. Even relatively minor surgeries like dental implant placement needs to be taken seriously. If you plan on having dental implants surgery in West Bloomfield in the near future, you’re also probably wondering how much time you’ll need to dedicate to recovery. You may be unsure whether that warrants taking time off work as well. The reality is there are several factors that can influence the timeline of your recovery. According to an implant dentist, these are the most notable ones to keep in mind.
Will You Need to Take Time Off Work?
It’s difficult to give a specific answer until you consider additional factors that make your care unique, but a general rule-of-thumb is to schedule at least a day or two off if you cannot schedule your implant surgery in time for the weekend (or during days you know you will not have to work). This ensures you can give your mouth the attention and care it needs to prevent any complications while it’s still sensitive. However, you may need to take additional days off from your job if it requires large amounts of physical labor to perform. Exerting too much energy can actually affect the body’s ability to heal, putting the implant at risk.
Number of Implants Placed
When a dental implant is placed, a small incision is created in the gum tissue, then a tiny hole is made in the jawbone so that the implant has room to integrate. The more implants you need to have placed, the more incisions need to be made. That means your healing process will look different compared to someone who may have only had a single implant attached.
Another procedure that can influence your healing time is bone grafts, a process that involves taking small amounts of bone material and fusing it with the jaw. This makes the jawbone thicker and ensures the implant can integrate effectively. If the procedure is necessary, it’s very important that you dedicate enough time to your aftercare, which may or may not influence the number of days you spent at home (and not at work).
Managing Aftercare
Not only does aftercare play a major role in your ability to go back to work, but it also influences the long-term success of your dental implant. The better you take care of your implant after it’s placed, the more effectively it should heal and integrate with your jaw. While this includes practicing proper oral hygiene and maintaining follow-up visits with the dentist, it also should include:
- A soft food diet (initially)
- Avoiding the use of straws (temporary)
- Temporarily avoiding the act of spitting forcefully (to prevent dislodging the clot forming over the healing socket)
- Temporarily avoiding very hot beverages or foods
- Getting plenty of rest
- Using cold compresses over the first few days after surgery to reduce swelling
- Taking painkillers as prescribed
- Avoiding strenuous activity for the next few days
- Following all instructions provided by the dentist
Of course, the only way to know for sure exactly how many days you should take off is to have a conversation with the dentist in West Bloomfield who either placed your implant or plans to do so!
About LakeView Family Dental
Dr. Nakisher and Dr. Wood have virtually eliminated the need for out-of-office referrals, including for treatments like dental implants. This is thanks to their expertise within the field of dental implant surgery and restorations. Whether you plan to have a single implant or multiple placed to rebuild your smile, you can schedule a consultation with them to learn more by contacting them through their website.